The Los Angeles Lakers are at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday in the first NBA play-in game. The winner of this game will go into the postseason as the 7th seed in the Western Conference.
The winner of this game will get the Denver Nuggets in the first round. The loser will have to play the winner of the Kings/Warriors game to figure out who the 8th seed in the West is.
The Lakers are 47-35 on the season. Los Angeles won the first ever in-season tournament earlier this season. Los Angeles won their final two games of the regular season, including a win on Sunday on the road at the Pelicans.
For New Orleans, they just lost out on getting into the Top 6 in the West. The Pelicans are 49-33 on the season. New Orleans won at the Kings on Thursday and Warriors on Friday, but took the home loss Sunday.
The Los Angeles Lakers are -1.5 on the road in this game. The total is set at 225.5.
Los Angeles Lakers
In the win on Sunday, Anthony Davis scored 30, LeBron James added 28 and they both had 11 rebounds in the game. James dominated the game with a game high 17 assists as well. On the season, both James and Davis have been back and forth as the team leader in points. The Lakers are getting 25.7 from James and 24.7 from Davis.
De’Angelo Russell is third on the team with Austin Reaves fourth. Those two are combining for nearly 34 points per game. As a team the Lakers are scoring 118 points per game. The Lakers are the second best shooting team in the league, making nearly 50% of their shots.
Los Angeles is 8th in three point percentage as well. Los Angeles finished the regular season with a 5-2 record during the month of April. The two losses this month came at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves and to the Golden State Warriors.
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are 5-5 in their last 10 games. In April, they are 4-4. The Pelicans had won four straight games; against the Suns, Trail Blazers, Kings and Warriors before the loss to the Lakers. In each of their wins, they scored 110 points or more.
The Pelicans are scoring 115.1 points per game. That ranks 13th in the National Basketball Association. New Orleans is making just over 48.% of their shots. New Orleans is also making 38.3% from three.
Zion Williamson was the top scorer all season for New Orleans. He played in 70 games, and started them all. Zion scored 22.9 points per game. Brandon Ingram is back for the Pelicans, after missing just shy of a month. Ingram played 23 minutes in his return. He is second on the squad, with just shy of 21 points per game.
Lakers Survive and Advance
We like the experience and talent of the Lakers to win this game. Sure it is on the road, but this is a team that has been there and done that. The Lakers go to the Pelicans and grab a win.
This win sets up a big series against the Nuggets net. Take the Lakers -1.5 on Tuesday over the Pelicans. Enjoy the game!
