Pelicans vs Lakers NBA Odds, Picks and Predictions Tonight

The Lakers earned their first win of the season, but the Pelicans have a low-key, deep roster and Brandon Ingram’s absence is one they can handle. Our NBA picks explain why oddsmakers should see the Lakers’ woes continue Wednesday night.

The New Orleans Pelicans (4-2) have kept themselves incredibly strong despite missed games from Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones. They will still miss Ingram for the last game of this three-game road trip, a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers (1-5).

The Lakers are coming off their first win of the season, an admittedly impressive 121-110 win over the Denver Nuggets. LeBron James (26 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds) and Anthony Davis (23 points, 15 rebounds) led the way, with Russell Westbrook playing a pivotal role off the bench.

Find out which team has the near-term answers with our NBA Pelicans vs Lakers picks and predictions for Wednesday, November 2.

Pelicans vs Lakers best odds

Pelicans vs Lakers picks and predictions

In many ways, Wednesday night’s game between the Pelicans and Lakers features two teams that are poles apart. On one side you have the Lakers – the recent champions are full of proven MVPs and first-team All-NBA level players with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook combining for five of the first and a whopping 31 of the second.

The Pelicans have none. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum are all hugely talented in their own right and range from brimming with unparalleled potential (Zion) to being on the verge of a superstar-level breakout (Ingram) to being a pivotal and indispensable No.3 ( McCollum) on a team looking to make even more playoff noise in the spring.

New Orleans also has depth of range in its lineup to complement its “Big Three,” ranging from All-Rookie defensive stalwart Herbert Jones to par-36 god Jonas Valanciunas, to pesky Jose Alvarado and the versatile and athletic Larry Nance Jr. In fact, there’s an argument that the Pelicans have one of the best 1-9 rotations in the entire league.

This is another area where these teams differ in extreme ways. The Lakers’ bench ranks eighth in scoring (29.8 ppg), fifth in three-point percentage (31.5%) and second in field goal percentage (40.9%). ).

Perimeter shortcomings are actually much worse when extended across the team, with Los Angeles shooting a league-worst 26.6 percent. In fact, the gap between them and the second-worst team (OKC, 29.5%) is as big as the gap between OKC and the three teams behind them.

It’s that kind of inefficiency and lack of depth that makes it really hard to win games night after night. And while they looked good in their last outing, the Lakers’ 1-5 record both upside and against the spread is a perfect demonstration that being NBA odds dogs of only three points for Wednesday’s affair is just a bit too short.

my best bet: Pelicans -3 (-105 at Pinnacle)

Pelicans vs. Lakers spread analysis

By comparison, the New Orleans Pelicans are 4-2 ATS this year, thanks in large part to unusually impressive shorthanded performances. At this point, Ingram (22.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.0 apg) hasn’t made the trip for that three-game road streak and will be out Wednesday.

However, the Pelicans should pick up Jones (listed as likely), who brings a level of defensive skill and intensity that can lock out one of the Lakers’ very limited offensive options.

Zion also came back in the final game, picking up 21 points, 12 rebounds and 7 rebounds en route to a 112-91 loss to the Clippers. In fact, this game was a very complete effort with five different players scoring 15 or more points, with CJ McCollum scoring a team-leading 22 points on 4-of-8 shooting on three.

Pelicans vs Lakers Over/Under Analysis

For all their shortcomings, the Lakers have been somewhat decent defensively. Their 110.5 points allowed per game rank eighth in the league and their defensive rating of 104.7 is just behind the Bucks.

At this point, New Orleans is allowing 111.3 ppg (13th) and a defensive rating of 111.1 (14th). Despite the overall skill of both teams’ defences, their clash features the second-highest total of the night at 228.5.

And since neither team has played since Sunday, it may take some time early in the game to get rid of the cobwebs. Last year, New Orleans played with a 13-7 record against the under two or more rest days, and played for the last time on Sunday before tonight’s game.

Pelicans vs Lakers betting trend you need to know

New Orleans went 13-7 against last year’s underdogs on two or more rest days. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs Lakers.

Pelicans vs Lakers game information

Pelicans vs Lakers key injuries

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