Los Angeles Lakers Vs New Orleans Pelicans March 1 2020

On March 1, the Los Angeles Lakers seek to extend their winning streak to 10-3 against the New Orleans Pelicans. Both teams boast similar records within the Western Conference.

Both teams are striving to improve their standings in order to qualify for the postseason tournament. The Lakers have a chance at snagging home-court advantage during the playoffs, while the Pelicans could make an appearance in the play-in round as well.

Los Angeles Lakers

Last week, the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 116-105 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks that put them back on track to make some real progress in the Western Conference. Currently seated ninth, they are within striking distance of snagging a playoff spot. But their path ahead remains challenging as they will take on Toronto Raptors on March 1 2020 for what could determine their seeding for postseason play.

This season, the Lakers have stayed ahead of their opponents thanks to trade deadline acquisitions Jared Vanderbilt and DeAngelo Russell. Both players have been key contributors on both ends of the court; improving both defense and offense since joining the Lakers, making a huge impact on their overall performance.

Though the Pelicans haven't been as strong defensively, Trey Murphy has been their X-factor. Since the All-Star break he's averaged 2.8 threes per game on 39% shooting and is also a major scorer with 24.6 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per contest.

New Orleans has lost three of its last five games and hasn't won at home in four. Tonight, however, they have a chance to end that streak and keep their playoff hopes alive against an experienced Lakers squad.

Given their current form, it's no shock that the Lakers are the odds-on favorites to win this matchup. They're averaging 107 points per game on the road this season - fifth best in NBA - making them formidable opponents for this contest.

This is a crucial opportunity for them to secure a win against the Pelicans and gain some momentum heading into their next games. After going 4-0 in their last four after losing, they will look to build on that success against an opposing team dealing with its own struggles.

LeBron James is set to return to the court, making this a showdown between two of the greatest players in NBA history. This promises to be an exciting game to witness!

New Orleans Pelicans

Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are set for an NBA matchup that promises to be exciting. At 5-3, the Lakers are looking to climb up in the standings while the Pelicans are 3-8 and in desperate need of a win.

The Lakers have won three out of five and own a strong home record with three victories in their last four games. LeBron James leads this talented group, averaging 28.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Additionally, they boast an impressive roster of young talent including second-year superstar Julius Randle who is averaging 21.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

On March 1 2020, the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are set to meet in an all-time NBA contest. Both teams are in contention for a Western Conference playoff spot, making this battle of West-based greats sure to be exciting. We've collected all of the top basketball info you need in one place so you can prepare for this matchup - from its history to current trends and gimmicks. Best of all? There's something here for everyone in our article! We also covered important facts about both teams including their overall performance in this league, their best players and latest additions on their rosters.

Head-to-Head Record

On March 1, 2020 the Los Angeles Lakers are the clear favorites to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans. Both teams are in a fierce playoff race in the Western Conference, and the Lakers have an advantage of 3-0 in this season series.

The Lakers have gone 9-4 since their team-renovating trades and have yet to lose back-to-back games. A win against the Pelicans would be a huge boost as they strive to improve their record and get back on track.

Though the Lakers are on a two-game winning streak, they must focus if they hope to make the playoffs. LeBron James has struggled in his past two games but should find some consistency in this matchup against Sacramento.

Anthony Davis is expected to return to the court against the Pelicans on Tuesday night, after missing a game due to an ankle injury. Although he should be able to play some minutes, coach Mike D'Antoni will still want to monitor his progress closely.

Davis has been remarkable thus far and is expected to have another strong game. He's averaging 27 points and 10 rebounds, as well as being incredibly tough on opponents.

He leads his team with 15 blocks and has not been held to fewer than 20 points in any of his seven games against the Pelicans this season. Furthermore, he is shooting a career-best 59 percent from the field and 68 percent from beyond the arc.

The Pelicans, however, are in the midst of a losing streak and have not won any of their last six matches. They're scoring just 97 points per game but allowing an NBA-leading 102.4 per contest.

After the Lakers took an early lead, they broke it open with an impressive 3-point shooting performance that saw them go 15 for 27 from beyond the arc in the first half. At halftime, the Lakers led by 58-41 and continued their momentum into a 40-point third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Pelicans were able to close the gap but the Lakers proved too strong. They went 25 for 28 from the free-throw line - including 12 for 13 by Davis - with their big men Beasley and Russell also hitting well from there; furthermore, their defense forced several critical turnovers as well.

Prediction

On March 1 2020, the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be the favorite against the New Orleans Pelicans in a matchup that could have major play-in implications. With both teams fighting for playoff spots, any outcome from this game could determine which team earns a top-six seed in the Western Conference.

The Pelicans have a good chance to cover against the Lakers as they have won six straight games and are 8-6 on the season. Their young and talented roster features Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball at guard positions; this combination should give them an edge going into this matchup.

They boast an experienced roster, featuring JJ Redick, Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis. This season the Pelicans have shown remarkable improvement; currently sitting in 5th place in the West with an overall record of 15-18.

But they still have a few things to prove against the Lakers, especially with LeBron James sidelined due to a knee injury. This could make things even tougher for the Pelicans who have struggled offensively without their star point guard.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have made progress since their slow start and have won nine of their last 11 games. Although LeBron is expected to miss some time, they still have plenty of other key players with whom they can rely if needed.

With so much riding on this game, it will be essential to monitor both teams carefully in order to not miss any key plays and take advantage of the many betting options available for this matchup. DraftKings Sportsbook currently has the Lakers at -115 with a moneyline bet and the Pelicans at -105 with an expected point total of 226.

With LeBron out, the Pelicans will need more shooting from Kyle Kuzma and Dennis Schroder to carry the load on both ends of the court. Furthermore, their big men may need to rely on each other more than usual against a small Lakers frontcourt.