Los Angeles Lakers: Betting picks vs. New Orleans Pelicans

The Los Angeles Lakers are on a bit of a roll right now. The purple and gold are riding a four-game win streak that included a tightly-contested win over the Chicago Bulls, two blowouts that broke the Houston Rockets and an easy win on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Lakers are now back at home and are entering the most polarizing stretch of the season thus far. Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans are in town on Friday night in a game that is naturally easy to sell because of the Anthony Davis trade.

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors then come into the Staples Center for what should be a really fun matchup. Then, after two days off, the Lakers will be in Milwaukee to take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.

For now, though, our focus is on tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and specifically for this article, we are concerned with the betting lines in this game.

As part of the Lake Show Life Podcast, I have been picking both against the spread and the point total for this season. My record on the season is 11-11 after splitting last game against the Thunder. I had the Lakers -7.5 and under 219. The Lakers covered, but 227 total points were scored.

According to the BetMGM odds on the Action Network, the Los Angeles Lakers are 9.5-point favorites in this game and the point total is 219.5.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans betting picks:

My picks: Pelicans +9.5, over 219.5 (Final score: Los Angeles Lakers 116, New Orleans Pelicans 107).

So for those that do not know I have created a simple betting model to try and predict the final score of NBA games. Sometimes I follow what the model says, other times I also look at other factors and go against it.

I am going with it tonight. Zion Williamson has been cleared to play, which is massive for the Pelicans, even if they are without Lonzo Ball. Zion and BI are going to combine for 50 and I think the rest of the supporting cast can keep the Pelicans in the game.

This is a big game for the Pelicans and they are naturally going to be going for broke against AD and LeBron James. That favors a Pelicans cover in this game, even if I only have them covering by half a point.

The Los Angeles Lakers get the job done in a game that will be close throughout before the Lakers pull away in the fourth quarter.