The Los Angeles Lakers need a win on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Although the Pels are out of the running for the playoffs, they surely would love to hurt the Lakers’ chances of going through the dreaded play-in tournament. Check out our preview for this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA Regular Season Game on May 16, 2021
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
When: Sunday, May 16, 2021, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Lakers (-8) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (+8) – view all 2020-21 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers (-8)
Regular Season Record: 40-30
The Lakers are still in the hunt for the seventh seed in the West after barely eking out a 124-122 home win over the Houston Rockets last Wednesday. After two days of rest, the Lakers will get back to action and face the Indiana Pacers on the road this Saturday before taking on the Pelicans for the regular-season finale. As of this writing, it’s uncertain whether LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be able to give it to go against the Pacers and the Pelicans. Assuming they’ll sit out instead, the Lakers will be forced to rely on Kyle Kuzma, Andre Drummond, and Talen Horton-Tucker anew. Horton-Tucker led the team against Houston with his 23 points, while Drummond had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kuzma came off the bench and fired 19 points. Don’t sleep on Montrezl Harrell, as well. He scored 16 points when the Lakers beat New Orleans on Jan. 15, 112-95.
The Lakers are 2-1 against the spread in their last three games against New Orleans.
Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans (+8)
Regular Season Record: 31-40
The Pelicans are out of playoff contention, but they don’t want to end the regular season on a bad note. They are on a three-game skid, so a win this Sunday would at least send them off to the offseason with positive vibes. In their last game, the Pels lost to the Golden State Warriors on the road Friday night, 125-122, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker still managed to leave quite an impression, as he finished with 30 points on 11-40 shooting from the field with 4 3-pointers. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are not expected to play in New Orleans’ regular-season finale, so guys like Alexander-Walker, Jaxon Hayes, and Eric Bledsoe could all enjoy expanded minutes. Alexander-Walker had 18 points in the Pelicans’ 128-111 home win over the Lakers last March, while Hayes came off the bench and scored 15 points. The Pelicans are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 meetings with the Lakers. New Orleans is also 2-0 against the spread in its last two home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Lakers win, 115-106.
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