Lakers vs. Pelicans, 3/23/21 NBA Predictions, Odds & DFS Notes

Lakers vs. Pelicans NBA Prediction

The Pelicans are a 6-point home favorite tonight against the Lakers but New Orleans has dropped six of its last 10 games overall while L.A. has covered seven of its last 10 contests. Will the LeBron-less Lakers come through for bettors as an underdog tonight?

Game Snapshot

549 Los Angeles Lakers (+6) at 550 New Orleans Pelicans (-6); o/u 222

7:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA

TV: TNT

Los Angeles Lakers DFS Notes

LeBron James (high right ankle sprain) is expected to miss several weeks, Shams Charania reports. This was the initial expectation after the Lakers first announced the diagnosis. This is a tough blow for fantasy managers this close to the playoffs who just have to stash him in an I.R. slot and hope for a quick recovery. Talen Horton-Tucker is a hot pickup in fantasy basketball with this news and has been trending up fast with 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 dimes over his last five games.

New Orleans Pelicans DFS Notes

Lonzo Ball (strained left hip flexor) is questionable to play on Tuesday against the Lakers. Ball missed his first matchup against the Lakers and is now questionable for the second. He missed Sunday's game with the injury too, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker started in his place, scoring 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting with three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks in 31 minutes. There's a good chance New Orleans plays it safe with Ball, who is known to be on the trade block.

Lakers vs. Pelicans Game Prediction

With LeBron, Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol all out for the Lakers, the six points isn’t enough for me to back L.A. but the questionable status of Ball also leaves me hesitate to lay the points with the home favorite. Instead, I’m taking the under, which is 5-1 in the Lakers’ last six games overall, is 5-1 in their last six games as a road underdog and is 11-5 in the Pelicans’ last 16 games when facing an opponent with a winning percentage above .600.

NBA PREDICTION: LAKERS/PELICANS UNDER 222