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, March 27th, 2022 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.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(31-42) Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans (31-43)
Date: Sunday, March 27th
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: Smoothie King Center
NBA Moneyline Odds: Lakers +134 | Pelicans -143 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Pelicans -3
NBA Betting Total: 228
Sunday, March 27th, finds the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans playing for the second of three meetings this season. New Orleans won the initial meeting on February 27th (123-95). The final meeting will occur on April 1st with LA hosting.
The Lakers last played on Wednesday losing 121-126 to the 76ers while the Pelicans are playing in a back-to-back set having lost 103-107 to the Spurs on Saturday.
Last season, the squads played three times with the Lakers winning two of the three contests. The Lakers hold the advantage all-time winning 41 of the 65 matches versus the Pelicans.
Los Angeles Lakers
With three days extra rest the Lakers should be ready for this match and know how essential it is for them to get the victory. LA only reclaimed the ninth seed based on the Pels losing to the Spurs.
Although they can’t claim the tiebreak versus New Orleans in this contest they can lose it if they don’t tie things up via a win.
Presumably, the Lakers recognized how important this match was as they rested LeBron James on Wednesday versus the 76ers giving him five full days off since the Cleveland game.
It does sort of feel like LeBron is only playing to win the scoring title and keep collecting points for his all-time record resume but perhaps when Anthony Davis returns things will change.
One player who is looking better is Russell Westbrook but will his few positive games extend into something more reliable longer term?
Talen Horton-Tucker (ankle) was upgraded to probable while LeBron James (knee) and Dwight Howard (hip) are questionable for Sunday. Anthony Davis (ankle) and Kendrick Nunn (knee) are out indefinitely.
New Orleans Pelicans
While the Pelicans youngsters are learning so too is rookie head coach Willie Green. Instead of calling a timeout he allowed Jose Alvarado to take the most important shot of the game versus San Antonio and he came up short.
In hindsight, Green recognized he should’ve called a timeout and had options for the final play and one that didn’t have CJ McCollum passing the ball to a rookie (Jose Alvarado) for the final shot unless, of course, he was wide open.
Jonas Valanciunas registered a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds while McCollum scored 32.
The loss allowed the Lakers to move past them into ninth and cut the deficit between the Spurs and Pelicans for the 10th seed to a single game.
Brandon Ingram (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday. Zion Williamson (foot) is out indefinitely while Kira Lewis Jr. (ACL) is lost for the season.