NBA New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 12-21-2018, 22:30 EDT

Spread: Los Angeles Lakers -5.5

Total: +233

Two struggling Western Conference squads that have back-to-back losses are clashing tonight, when the New Orleans Pelicans are visiting the Los Angeles Lakers with both teams wanting to return to the winning ways.

Pelicans are 15-17 so far in the league and are tied with San Antonio in the tenth place of the Western Conference. They are 1-3 in their last 4 games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Milwaukee on the road, 115-123. Lakers are 18-13 so far in the league and are tied with the other LA team, the Clippers in the fourth place of the Western Conference. They are 1-3 in their last 4 games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Brooklyn on the road, 110-115.

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New Orleans are led in scoring by Anthony Davis with 28 ppg. He also adds 4.7 assists and leads the team in rebounding with 12.3 per game, while Jrue Holiday follows with 20.7 ppg, adding 4.3 rebounds and leading the team in assists made with 8.8 per game. Julius Randle adds 19.3 ppg and 9.5 rebounds per game. LA are led in scoring by LeBron James with 28 ppg. He also leads the team both in assists with 7 and rebounding with 7.9 per game, while Kyle Kuzma follows with 18.2 ppg, adding 5.8 rebounds per game. Brandon Ingram adds 15.2 ppg and 4 rebounds per game.

In their three matchups last year, New Orleans had a perfect 3-0, winning the only LA game by 7 points. LA are 11-4 at home so far, while New Orleans are 4-12 on the road. New Orleans have a better offense with 116.7 ppg to LA’s 113.3, while LA have better defense, allowing 111.7 ppg to New Orleans’ 115.3. Both squads have the same accuracy from the field, shooting with 47.8% each and almost the same accuracy from behind the arc, shooting with 35.3% and 34.9%. New Orleans commit fewer turnovers (14.9 to 15.3), grab more rebounds (47.2 to 46.2) and dish more assists per game (27.2 to 24.1). Pelicans have been very ineffective on the road and they don’t pose a threat in LA, so pick the Lakers in this one.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers -5.5 (-108)