Pelicans vs. Lakers Picks and Prediction – 4/4/2025

New Orleans Pelicans (21-55) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (46-29)
Time: 10:30 PM ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Tickets as low as $100
Line: Los Angeles Lakers -13.5
O/U: 219.5

Previous Games:

  • New Orleans: Lost 114-98 against the LA Clippers

  • Los Angeles: Won 104-98 against the Houston Rockets

Head-to-Head:

New Orleans is eliminated from playoff contention and will be without key players Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum for the remainder of the season. Los Angeles is still fighting for seeding in the playoff race and will face New Orleans after playing a back-to-back game against the Golden State Warriors. Despite the Lakers' tough schedule, they remain significant favorites in this matchup, with the Pelicans playing shorthanded.

New Orleans Pelicans Breakdown:

The Pelicans are severely undermanned without their top five scorers, and they’ve struggled lately, losing four of their last six games. Jordan Hawkins and Brandon Boston are their leading active scorers, but New Orleans will be hard-pressed to compete with a strong Lakers team. Their defense has also been a weakness, giving up an average of 116.2 points per game over the past 10 games.

Key Players:

  • Jordan Hawkins: 10.8 points per game

  • Yves Missi: 8.1 rebounds per game

  • Jose Alvarado: 4.6 assists per game

Los Angeles Lakers Breakdown:

The Lakers are in playoff contention and will need every win to secure a favorable position in the standings. They have a solid roster, with LeBron James and Luka Doncic leading the charge. However, they will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, which may affect their energy levels. The Lakers have been inconsistent recently but will still be the favorites in this matchup.

Key Players:

  • LeBron James: 24.4 points, 8.4 assists per game

  • Luka Doncic: 27.2 points, 8.5 rebounds per game

  • Anthony Davis: Averaging double digits in rebounds and scoring

Betting Trends:

New Orleans Pelicans:

  • 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games

  • Under has cashed in 6 of their last 9 games

Los Angeles Lakers:

  • 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games

  • Over has cashed in 9 of the Lakers’ last 13 games

Exact Score Prediction:

Los Angeles Lakers 118 – New Orleans Pelicans 110

Our Best Bet:

New Orleans Pelicans +13.5

Although the Lakers are likely to win this game, the Pelicans should be able to keep it closer than the large spread suggests. They’ve covered the spread in four of their last six games, and with the Lakers playing the second half of a back-to-back, they may not be as sharp. The over/under of 219.5 seems reasonable, given both teams' offensive tendencies and recent trends.

Back to blog