Steve Starr
- Go to BetOnline or Bovada for the latest odds on the Pelicans vs Lakers game
- Anthony Davis faces his former team for the fourth time since forcing his way out of New Orleans back in 2019
- This crucial Western Conference matchup tips off from Smoothie King Center at 8:00pm ET on Tuesday, March 14th
New Orleans (33-35) and Los Angeles (33-35) are locked in a four-way tie for ninth place in the Western Conference with the Jazz and Thunder. The Lakers had won three straight before losing to the Knicks on Sunday night while the Pelicans are treading water without star big man Zion Williamson.
Before we break down Tuesday night’s matchup, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 NBA Finals and our tips for betting on the NBA.
Pelicans vs Lakers
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1.5 (-112) | +102 | TBD |
| New Orleans Pelicans | -1.5 (-108) | -120 | TBD |
AD blames himself for loss
Anthony Davis blamed himself for a 112-108 loss to New York on Sunday night, saying “I played terrible” and “I didn’t do my job.” The 29-year-old power forward had been on a heater, helping his Lakers win seven of their previous nine games. However, he struggled with his shot against the Knicks, missing 10 of 18 field goal attempts and four of five free throw shots.
AD will look to rebound against his former team on Tuesday night. Davis forced his way out of New Orleans in 2019 before eventually winning a title with Los Angeles in 2020. With LeBron James likely to miss another six games at least, Davis will need to be more consistent down the stretch for the Purple & Gold to sneak in the NBA Play-In tournament.
"AD needs to be 28 and 15 on a daily basis. For him to give you a 15 with LeBron out is unacceptable."
Shannon Sharpe wants more out of Anthony Davis after their loss to the Knicks 🗣
(via @undisputed)pic.twitter.com/XPud2WIZYe
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 13, 2023
Pelicans still without Zion
Los Angeles isn’t the only team missing its star player. New Orleans has been without Zion Williamson for more than two months. The Pelicans are 10-21 since Zion’s injury on Jan. 2 and aren’t expected to get their All-Star forward back for another week or two.
Brandon Ingram was one of the center pieces to the deal that brought Davis to LA. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 24.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists since returning from an injury of his own. It was his teammate Trey Murphy III who starred on Sunday, however. The sophomore forward scored a career-high 41 points with a career-best nine three-pointers in a 127-110 victory over Portland.
New Orleans vs Los Angeles
The Lakers are a 1-point road underdog on Tuesday night. This is a crucial battle in the West as Darvin Ham’s club leads the season series 2-1 against New Orleans. Another win would clinch the tiebreaker for Los Angeles.
New Orleans has a strong 22-12 record at home, covering 55.9% of the time (19-15). Meanwhile, LA is four games under .500 on the road (15-19), with a nearly identical 15-18-1 record against the spread. Pelicans home games go UNDER more often than not (55.9%). But, Lakers road games go OVER 55.8% of the time, the sixth highest mark in the league.
Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have only played 12 games together this season
(Via @WillGuillory ) pic.twitter.com/BY2V19XX1z
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 12, 2023
Best Bet
Both of these squads have identical 33-35 records are eagerly awaiting the returns of their superstar players. And, the chances are only one of them books a trip to the playoffs.
While the Pelicans are a strong team at home, we think Davis puts the Lakers on his back against his former club and leads LA to victory.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
