LA Lakers (45-12) at New Orleans (26-33)
When: Sunday, March 1st, 2020
Where: Smoothie King Center,
New Orleans, LA
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -2.5/233.5
The New Orleans Pelicans started the season without their brand new superstar, and thus went 6-22 and were way out of the playoff picture. Since that start, the Pelicans have won 20 of their next 31 games and are within striking distance of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They also have Zion Williamson back in the lineup, but the big run started before he even stepped onto the court, proving this franchise is trending in the right direction. New Orleans will battle the West-leading Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this week on Sunday night at the Smoothie King Center on ESPN. The Pelicans are coming off a 116-104 home win over Cleveland after falling 118-109 at Staples Center on Tuesday night and trail the Memphis Grizzlies by 2.5 games for eighth place in the conference. Los Angeles had won seven straight before falling 105-88 at Memphis on Saturday night and will try to avoid its first losing streak since December. Anthony Davis makes his second appearance for the Lakers at New Orleans since being traded by the Pelicans in the offseason, and the All-Star forward had 41 points in a 114-110 L.A. win on Nov. 27. The Lakers are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings with New Orleans.
Los Angeles was without guard Danny Green in the loss at Memphis Saturday and is questionable for this one. He scored 17 against New Orleans last Tuesday. Davis only scored 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting Saturday and LeBron James recorded his first double-double in four games in recording 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. L.A. holds a 5.5-game lead over both the Denver Nuggets and L.A. Clippers in the West and could be playing the Grizzlies – or even Pelicans – in the first round of the playoffs should they maintain the No. 1 seed. Forward Kyle Kuzma had 10 points Saturday and is averaging 13.3 over his last four while guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 11. The Lakers will host the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks next week.
Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball helped the Pelicans back into the playoff race while Williamson was still rehabbing from offseason surgery and Ingram ended up making the All-Star team. He had 34 points against the Lakers on Tuesday and leads the team with 24.8 per game while Williamson is averaging 23.4 points on 58.1 percent shooting in his first 14 NBA contests. Ball adds 11.6 points per game but more importantly, leads the team with 5.3 assists after averaging nine over the last four games. Guard J.J. Redick (14.9 points) left Friday’s game with a hamstring injury and is questionable for Sunday’s contest. New Orleans will continue its playoff push by hosting Minnesota on Tuesday.
This New Orleans team is getting better and better by the day, but they’re still not ready to beat LeBron and company in a meaningful, nationally televised game. New Orleans is just 1-4 ATS in their last five against teams with winning records including a loss to L.A. just a few days ago. The Pelicans will keep it close, but the Lakers come through in the end.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Sunday. He is 68-52-3 on the season after a 9-1 run!
Pick: Lakers -2
Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest.
Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Lakers are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss.
Lakers are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Sunday games.
Pelicans are 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 games overall.
Pelicans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games as an underdog.
Pelicans are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 games following a straight up win.
Pelicans are 19-8-1 ATS in their last 28 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Pelicans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games as a favorite.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games playing on 0 days rest.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Under is 5-2 in Lakers last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 10-4 in Lakers last 14 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 9-4 in Lakers last 13 road games.
Under is 5-1 in Pelicans last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-1 in Pelicans last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 4-1 in Pelicans last 5 games as an underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Pelicans last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 16-5 in Pelicans last 21 games following a straight up win.
Over is 9-3 in Pelicans last 12 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 16-6 in Pelicans last 22 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-4 in Pelicans last 14 home games.
Over is 19-8 in Pelicans last 27 overall.
Over is 19-8 in Pelicans last 27 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-3 in Pelicans last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 18-8 in Pelicans last 26 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in New Orleans.
Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Lakers are 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in New Orleans.
