It’s big-time narrative night in Los Angeles with the Lakers hosting Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. Somehow that narrative has overshadowed the fact that Anthony Davis is facing his former team for the third time this season. It’s LeBron and AD vs. Zion and Brandon Ingram in the marquee matchup for Tuesday’s seven-game slate. The Pelicans are chasing a playoff spot and the Lakers are chasing a playoff berth — which could be coming soon. Let’s take a look at the odds, lines and spreads on DraftKings Sportsbook for Pelicans vs. Lakers.
Pelicans vs. Lakers odds, spread, over/under
Spread: Lakers -8 (-110)
Over/Under: Over 239 (-112)
Money line: Lakers -335, Pelicans +270
Despite the Lakers dominance over the Pelicans in previous meetings, that was without Williamson in the lineup. New Orleans is a completely different animal with Zion in the front court. I think the rookie will give LeBron and AD some problems on defense and right now I’d consider that spread too high in the Lakers favor. Yes, L.A. has a five-game winning streak. Yes, two of those wins are against the Celtics and Nuggets. Did either of those teams lose by more than four points? No. I expect this game to be competitive, so even looking at the Pels on the money line isn’t a bad idea.
As for the O/U total, I think it’s way too high. Most competitive games don’t get up to a high total like this. I also think while Zion could be a bully down low, he also could have issues matching up with AD and LeBron. The Lakers would be wise to slow down the pace at home and try and limit fastbreaks for the Pelicans. Really the only scenario I see this OVER hitting is if the Pelicans blow the doors off the Lakers. The chances of that over other outcomes, to me, is slim.
Pelicans vs. Lakers superstar player point props
LeBron James — Over 26.5 (-107)
Anthony Davis — Over 29.5 (+110)
Zion Williamson — Over 22.5 (-121)
Brandon Ingram — Over 21.5 (-121)
I see a lot of value in AD over his point total. Zion is undersized, Ingram can’t guard AD. Derrick Favors can’t guard AD. It seems like a night in which LeBron and Davis account for most of the Lakers scoring. So getting plus-money on AD to go for 30 points seems very favorable. With the total so high, I also see Zion and Ingram — at least one of them — going over their point total. I’d lean Williamson, mostly because Ingram hasn’t been as aggressive on offense. Even so, we need to consider the revenge narrative after the Lakers shipped Ingram out.
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