New Orleans Pelicans vs
Los Angeles LakersPredictions & Preview

New Orleans Pelicans to Face Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Western Conference Showdown

The New Orleans Pelicans are set to take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in a Western Conference matchup on Friday night at 10:30 PM ET. The Lakers will be looking to sweep the Pelicans for the first time since the 2019-20 season after winning their two previous meetings this season. Los Angeles is currently favored to win by 14 points in this upcoming game. For more information on this matchup and other NBA picks for Friday, April 4, 2025, continue reading below.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Pelicans +615 | Lakers -909
• Spread: Pelicans +14 (-110) | Lakers -14 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 220 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Los Angeles will win straight-up is 90%.

New Orleans vs Los Angeles Stats

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are facing challenges in the 2024-25 season due to injuries affecting key players like Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, and Herbert Jones. Despite a recent defeat against the LA Clippers, the Pelicans have shown resilience but struggled with their three-point shooting. Their offensive and defensive statistics place them at 24th in offense and 26th in defense, with a power ranking of 26. The team's shooting percentages and rebounding numbers are below average compared to other NBA teams. Overall, the Pelicans have a record of 21-55 this season and have faced difficulties both offensively and defensively on the court.

Los Angeles Lakers Analysis

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently ranked 15th in the power rankings and have a record of 46-29. They are ranked 19th in offense, scoring an average of 113.05 points per game, and 12th in defense, giving up an average of 112.23 points per game. In their previous two games, the Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets. They are currently third in the Western Conference, three games behind the second-place Houston Rockets. The Lakers will be playing the Oklahoma City Thunder twice in the next four days. In terms of offensive statistics, the Lakers rank 11th in field goal percentage and 12th in free throw percentage. Defensively, they rank 10th in opponent field goal percentage and 17th in opponent free throw percentage. Overall, the Lakers have been performing well on both ends of the court.

LeBron James is Probable for Lakers vs. Warriors Game Despite Pelicans' Struggles

Professional Statement:

LeBron James is currently listed as probable for Thursday's game against the Warriors as he continues to recover from a groin injury. There is a possibility that he may receive a day of rest when the injury-plagued Pelicans visit. Despite the potential for player rotation, I predict that the Lakers will perform well enough to secure a victory. The Pelicans have struggled in recent games, facing a significant net rating deficit and scoring challenges. Their performance in long-range shooting has also been subpar, ranking low in both triples made per game and 3-point percentage. Based on their past matchups, the Pelicans have experienced difficulties against the Lakers, with a poor win-loss record and ATS performance in their last nine meetings.

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