The Los Angeles Lakers (22-11) and New Orleans Pelicans (8-29) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. The game will be broadcast live on SportsNet LA.
The Lakers are 5.5-point favorites over the Pelicans on the spread (Lakers -5.5), with the over/under set at 244.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -230 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New Orleans is +190 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Lakers vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, January 6.
Lakers vs Pelicans Prediction
- Lakers vs Pelicans pick: Zion Williamson Over 24.5 Points (-109)
My Pelicans vs Lakers best bet is on Zion Williamson to score over 24.5 points, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Lakers vs Pelicans Odds
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -118 | 244.5 -105o / -115u | -230 |
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -102 | 244.5 -105o / -115u | +190 |
Lakers vs Pelicans NBA Preview
The Lakers wrapped up a five-game homestand at 3-2 after sweeping a pair of games from the Grizzlies.
They may not have defended as well as head coach J.J. Redick would have liked as the team is 21st in defensive rating over that span. However, it is still an improvement as the team ranks 26th for the season.
Their offense has still been good enough to carry them, led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Doncic is the league's leading scorer at 33.7 points and he is fourth with 8.7 assists per game.
James appears to have his legs under him as he has been more aggressive of late, averaging 24.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists over his last 10 games. The absence of Austin Reaves may be a factor as he is out once again with a left calf strain.
The Lakers have dominated the series of late, winning nine of the last 10 meetings. They have taken each of the first two meetings this season and will go for the victory in the season series tonight.
After a 3-22 start, the Pelicans won five straight games after getting healthier. They looked like a team that may have a chance of getting back in the Play-In Tournament race as the Clippers had just nine wins at that point as well.
However, they have lost seven straight games and four of them have been double digits.
Defense also has been a liability for them as they are 29th in defensive rating over their past seven games and 27th for the season. New Orleans also may be without its best defender tonight again as Herb Jones is questionable with an ankle sprain. He last played in the team's last victory against Dallas. Saddiq Bey is out for tonight's game as well.
Lakers vs Pelicans Prediction, Betting Analysis
Zion Williamson returned in mid-December and averaged about a point per minute with 23.4 points in 25.9 minutes per game. He then scored 31 points against the Trail Blazers before running into a tough matchup with Bam Adebayo and Miami. Williamson has scored 20 points in eight of his last nine games and cleared 25 in five of them.
Tonight, he should thrive against the Lakers as they are 28th in points allowed to power forwards. Williamson has dominated this matchup historically as he has scored 25 points in four of his last five games against them, including 30 in three of those games.
Derik Queen should help the Pelicans on the glass as he has pulled down seven rebounds in nine of his last 10 games. He has 17 rebounds in two games against the Lakers this season.
Doncic had one of his lowest scoring outputs of the year against the Pelicans with 24 points, but he still had 12 assists. He has recorded 40 PA or more in three of his last four games against the Pelicans and in seven of his last 10 games overall.
James missed the first two meetings against the Pelicans this year, but he has recorded 25 points and rebounds in each of his last eight games against them as well as eight of his last 10 games.
Pick: Zion Williamson Over 24.5 Points (-109, DraftKings)
Lakers vs Pelicans Parlay Picks
- Luka Doncic 40+ Points + Assists
- LeBron James 25+ Points + Rebounds
- Zion Williamson 20+ Points
- Derik Queen 7+ Rebounds
Parlay Odds: +282 via DraftKings
