Free NBA Pick: Lakers vs. Pelicans NBA Odds
Looking for Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Lakers taking on the Pelicans on Sunday, December 31st, 2023 at Smoothie King Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Lakers Pelicans matchup.
2023 NBA Handicapping Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
(17-16) Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans (18-14)
Date: Sunday, December 31st
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LO
Moneyline NBA Odds: Lakers | Pelicans – (Bet Now!) OFF as of posting
NBA ATS Betting Odds: Pelicans -4
Today’s NBA Betting Total (O/U): 227.5
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New Year’s Eve serves up a slate of six matches with the Los Angeles Lakers visiting the New Orleans Pelicans among them. This is the clubs second of four meetings this season. The teams met in the semi-finals of the In-Season Tournament where LA thrashed the Pels 133-89.
LA is completing a back-to-back set having lost a 106-108 nailbiter to the Timberwolves on Saturday while the Pelicans have been off since Thursday following a 112-105 victory versus the Jazz.
Season Series
Last season, the teams played four times with the Lakers taking three of the four contests. LA also holds the all-time record having bested the Pelicans in 45 of their 72 matches.
Los Angeles Lakers
LA suffered a tough loss to open the back-to-back set and things don’t get easier as they close out the set having won just twice in their prior six opportunities.
The recently turned 39-year-old LeBron James is leading the Lakers averaging 25.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists while the heir apparent Anthony Davis is averaging a double-double of 24.9 points and 12.3 rebounds.
Lakers Stats
LA ranks 22nd offensively (112.8), and ninth defensively (112.8), with an even net differential of 0.0 ranking 18th overall.
The Lakers are middling in the pack as they post a 15-18 record against the spread to this point in the season.
Lakers Injury Report
To summarize the injury report…
- LeBron James, SF (probable — knee)
- Anthony Davis, PF (probable — ankle)
- Cam Reddish, SG (probable — groin)
- Gabe Vincent, PG (OUT indefinitely —knee)
New Orleans Pelicans
Despite getting healthier the Pelicans have cooled off playing more in the middle ground going 7-5 through their last 12 matches. While the Pelicans were nursing injuries the team overachieved but with the majority of the core healthy they’ve inexplicably been underachieving.
If New Orleans Big 3 could ever consistently find a rhythm they could be dangerous. Specifically, Brandon Ingram leads his squad scoring 23.2 points per game while Zion Williamson offers 22.3 points and CJ McCollum provides 19.7 points per game.
Not to be ignored is the fact Jonas Valanciunas is producing close to a double-double (14.5 points, 9.7 rebounds) per match.
Pelicans Stats
The Pelicans rank 16th offensively (115.0), and seventh defensively (112.3) while posting a plus +2.8 net differential which ranks eighth overall.
New Orleans rides just above the middle with a 17-14-1 record against the spread through 32 contests.
Pelicans Injury Report
To summarize the injury report…
- Cody Zeller, C (questionable — ankle)
- Trey Murphy III, SF (questionable—knee)
- Matt Ryan, SF (OUT indefinitely— elbow)
NBA Bettors we want to hear from you. Comment below. Give us your Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA picks!
Lakers vs. Pelicans NBA Betting Trends:
- All in all, the Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Lakers’ last 6 games.
- Also, the Lakers are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games.
- By comparison, the Pelicans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Orleans’ last 9 games against the Lakers.
- Additionally, the Pelicans are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games.
Free Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA Prediction:
Neither squad is positioned where they expected to be at season’s start. LA is currently seeded ninth, and the Pelicans are seventh, meaning they would have to get into the playoffs via the Play-In Tournament if they were to finish there.
Much like the beginning of the season, the players will view the New Year as an opportunity for a fresh start as both try to build momentum into the All-Star Break.
The Lakers need to rediscover their defensive intensity and find consistency in their offense outside of LeBron and AD. Similarly, the Pels must find consistency particularly offensively.
Ultimately, the Pelicans have performed much better on defense and have a 10-7 record at home whereas LA is 6-12 on the road which is why I’m picking New Orleans to win and cover.
4* Free Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA Betting Pick: Pelicans ATS
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NBA Tweet Of The Day
From undrafted to 1,000 career points.
Congrats, @AlvaradoJose15 👏 pic.twitter.com/m8cgLWJr7R
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 29, 2023
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