NBA Betting – Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Pelicans
The best team in the Western Conference opened the week with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Now, the Los Angeles Lakers will try and close it with another positive decision over Zion Williamson and his gang when the teams meet Sunday in the Big Easy on ESPN. Behind 40 points from LeBron James the Lakers beat the Pels for the third time this season and fifth in a row overall, 118-109, on Monday in the first meeting between James and Zion. The young Pels get this game in their barn looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. CLAIM YOUR WELCOME BONUS - MAXIMUM $1000
Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Pelicans
Date and Time: Sunday, March 1, 2020, 8 p.m. ET
Location: Smoothie King Arena, New Orleans, LA
Opening NBA Odds: Lakers -1.5 - LIVE ODDS HERE
Lakers at Pelicans TV Coverage: ESPN
Odds Analysis
It’s a tough part of the schedule for the Lakers, who play their third game in four nights and the second of a back-to-back. Playing on the road hasn’t been an issue for the Lakers. They own the NBA’s best record in away games at 24-5 following a victory over Golden State on Thursday. They are 10-2 SU and 8-4 ATS in their last 12 away games. Thanks to a recent slump by the Memphis Grizzlies, the Pelicans find themselves not far behind for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Better results on their home floor will help to get them to the postseason. They are just 11-17 and 15-13 ATS inside the Smoothie King Arena.
Los Angeles Lakers
Is it time for the Lakers to manage the workload of LeBron? He missed just his third game of the season getting shelved with a sore groin against Golden State on Thursday. Finishing off a stretch of three games in four nights might be more reason to sit the 35-year-old King. LeBron has said that it’s not about where the team finishes in the standings, but with a nice lead for the No. 1 seed it has to be too good to give up.
Big things were expected from LeBron and former Pelican Anthony Davis, and they’ve delivered. They combine to average over 52 points and 17 rebounds per game. James leads the NBA with 10.6 assists per game. The Lakers gave up a lot to get AD and it will be worth the investment should he help the Lakers reach their ultimate destination. Davis is shooting 51 percent from the field and the Lakers top the Association by hitting nearly 49 percent of their shots.
AD showed no mercy against his former club in the first two meetings scoring a combined 87 points in the victories. In his first visit to the Crescent City since the blockbuster deal Davis hit 15 of 30 shots for 41 points. When the teams met in LA in early January Davis was even better connecting on 15 of 21 shots for 46 points with 13 rebounds. The Pels held him to 21 points on Monday, but James picked up the slack with 40. The Lakers have scored at least 114 points in every game of their five-game streak over the Pels averaging 122 points in that span.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pels got some young pieces to build their team around in the Davis trade. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart have all played a key role in the direction of the club. But the biggest piece just made his NBA debut last month and the Pels are hoping Zion can be the link to them and a playoff berth.
New Orleans dropped the first two games with Zion in the lineup, losing at home to San Antonio and Denver. The Pels are 8-6 since Williamson made his debut on Jan. 22, and he’s averaging 23.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 57.3 percent from the field. Williamson scored 29 points making 13 of 19 free throws in Monday’s loss to the Lakers, his ninth straight scoring at least 20.
Winners of two straight and five of six entering Monday’s tilt, the Pelicans haven’t figured out the Lakers this season. They dropped their third straight wasting another splendid effort from Brandon Ingram, who dropped 34 on his former club Monday night. BI is one of several talented offensive players on the Pelicans, now if they can only defend we might have something. The Pels allow 117 points per game to rank near the bottom of the league and opponents knock down 46.5 percent of their shots, another not so good stat in the league categories.
Bet Lakers at Pelicans at BookMaker.eu
The Lakers showed in their 30-point win over Golden State that they don’t need LeBron. It’s safe to say the Pelicans aren’t as bad as the Warriors – no team in the league is – but being able to keep up with LA is a challenge. Back-to-backs haven’t been an issue for the Lakers either, going 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS in the backend of those sets.
NBA Score Prediction: Los Angeles 121, New Orleans 112
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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com
