How’s that for click bait? Anthony Davis is on his way to Staples Center tonight, but it’s as the visitor when the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers meet for the second time this week and third time this season. Despite winning by 13 on Saturday, the Pels open as 5.5-point road dogs tonight against LeBron and the other guys. The total is at 238.5.
Pelicans vs Lakers Game Center
Standout Stats
- New Orleans is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games as the underdog, including at +6.5 in its straight-up win over the Lakers on the weekend. The Pelicans also won by 11 as 4.5-point dogs vs OKC just before the break.
- The Lakers are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five games as a favorite of 6 points or less. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are 2-9 SU and 4-7 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog of 6 points or less. There’s no real edge here – in fact, it’s the kind of stat that would scare you away from this game.
- The Lakers are scoring 111 points per game in February while the Pelicans are scoring just one more at 112. LA’s -11.9 point differential is No. 28 in the NBA this month. Both teams are 5-10 SU in their last 15 games.
- The Pelicans are 7-3 SU and ATS in the last 10 meetings between these teams but have just a +3.1 point differential in those games combined.
- The Lakers are ranked No. 4 in pace while the Pelicans are ranked No. 5. Both teams are averaging more than 104 possessions per game. New Orleans scores on 51.5 percent of its possessions and that’s tied for first in the league with the Warriors. The Lakers are 16th at 49.3 percent.
- With the high pace that both teams play at, it’s no surprise that four of the last five meetings have gone OVER the total with an average score of 239.8 points, hence tonight’s total points betting mark being near that at 238.5.
My Bet for Pelicans vs Lakers
Pelicans +5.5
Honestly, I don’t see much of an edge for either team in this game. I do like that New Orleans is coming off a win in this matchup just a few days ago and I think at 5.5 points I can be convinced that this is the right play. I’ll flatly state that I don’t particularly love either side in this game nor do I like either side of the total.
If you have other options, I’d recommend actually staying away from this one as both teams have been quite unpredictable and neither has been profitable at the betting window. In these spots, though, if I’m forced to make a decision, I will take the points being offered to me almost every time.
