Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 2/23/19 Predictions & Odds

Lakers vs. Pelicans Prediction

Speculation was rampant leading up to the trade deadline that Anthony Davis could be dealt to the Lakers. He wasn’t, and his current team, the Pelicans, will host LeBron James and Co. on Saturday night. Will Davis lead his team to a small upset?

Game Snapshot

539 Los Angeles Lakers at 540 New Orleans Pelicans

7:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, February 23, 2019

Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana

Our NBA Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line.

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook BetNow.eu, the Lakers are 4-point favorites to beat the Pelicans. The total, meanwhile, sits at 230.5 points and as of this writing, 60% of the public betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Lakers to cover the point spread.

Los Angeles Lakers Fantasy Spin

LeBron James scored a team-high 29 points during a 111-106 win over the Rockets, on Thursday, adding 11 rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block and four turnovers in 40 minutes. He had a big play on the defensive end as he drew a charge to foul James Harden out of the game. James had talked about flipping the switch as the Lakers make a push for a postseason spot, and now they're just 2.5 games out of the eight spot. James still doesn't have the explosiveness he had from previous years and he may not be 100% from his Christmas Day groin strain, but expect him to be in the lineup as long as he's healthy.

New Orleans Pelicans Fantasy Spin

Anthony Davis played 20 minutes on Friday vs. the Pacers, scoring 15 points (6-of-11 FGs, 3-of-6 FTs) with eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block and three turnovers. Acting GM Danny Ferry said the plan is to play Davis for 20-25 minutes per game, and that’s what we saw tonight with nine minutes in the first half and 11 minutes in the second (he sat out the entire fourth quarter). The NBA has stood firm in forcing the Pelicans to play the 25-year-old big man, but the threat of DNPs for back-to-backs or even small injury tweaks is very real. Be prepared for a bumpy ride, but he can still be an elite asset in 20-25 minutes while he’s upright. As for Saturday's game vs. the Lakers, Davis said he wasn't sure of his status and said the Pelicans will make that decision.

NBA Betting Trends

Los Angeles

The Lakers are 4-0 against the spread in their last four conference games.

New Orleans

The Pelicans failed to cover in four of their past five games overall.

Prediction

The Lakers are just 1-4 against the spread in their last five trips to the Big Easy and are 2-5 against the number in their last seven games versus the Pelicans overall. The home team, meanwhile, is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings between these two teams. Finally, the Pelicans are 5-1 at the betting window in their last six games coming off a loss and are 7-2 against the number in their last nine games following an ATS loss.

Saturday NBA Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans +4