Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Game Picks 2/23/2019

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Los Angeles Lakers head to Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, February 23, 2019. The opening line for this game has New Orleans as 1.5 point favorites.

The Lakers head into this matchup with a mark of 29-29. They are 4th in the Pacific Division. They have a point differential of -1.1 as they average 112.2 points per contest while giving up 113.3 per game. The Pelicans have an overall record of 26-33 this season. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They average 115.6 points per game and surrender 114.8, good for a point differential of 0.8.

Valuable Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 25-31-2 against the spread this season

The Los Angeles Lakers are 23-35-0 against the over/under this year

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 28-30-1 against the spread this season

The New Orleans Pelicans are 30-28-0 against the over/under this year

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

02/22/19 F Mike Muscala Ankle is questionable Saturday vs New Orleans
01/20/19 PG Lonzo Ball Ankle is out indefinitely

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

02/22/19 SF Darius Miller Ankle is doubtful Friday vs Indiana
02/21/19 PG Elfrid Payton Ankle is upgraded to probable Friday vs Indiana
02/18/19 F Anthony Davis Shoulder is probable Friday vs Indiana

Player Spotlight

Kyle Kuzma comes into this game averaging 19.1 points per contest while playing 32.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 77%. LeBron James averages 26.8 points per contest in 35.1 minutes per game. He averages 7.6 assists per game and 8.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% for the season while his free throw percentage is 68%.

Player Spotlight

Jahlil Okafor scores 7.9 points per contest while playing 15.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.8 rebounds per contest and has 0.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 60% and his free throw percentage is at 71%. Jrue Holiday averages 21.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 36.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.1 rebounds per game and has 7.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles averages 112.2 points per contest, which is 14th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -1.1 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 7th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 28th in the NBA. They average 47.0 boards per contest and 24.9 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 13th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 2nd with 15.9 per game. The Lakers allow 113.3 points per contest, which is 23rd in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 6th and 14th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.7 rebounds a game which ranks 27th, and they allow 24.6 assists per game which puts them in 17th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 17th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 4th in the NBA with 115.6 points per contest this season. They are 5th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 0.78. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 20th in the league. They are 6th in the NBA in rebounding with 47.0 boards per contest and 4th in assists per game with 26.8. The Pelicans are 13th in turnovers per contest with 14.3. The Pelicans give up 114.8 points per game, which ranks them 27th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 17th and 25th in those defensive statistics. They rank 27th with 25.9 dimes allowed per game and 15th with 44.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Pelicans are 6th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Lakers are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 108.9, and their offensive rating of 107.8 is ranked 11th. They are 3rd in the NBA in pace with 103.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA. Los Angeles is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 26th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 18th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 11th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 112.3, and their offensive rating of 113.1 is ranked 24th. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 102.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Lakers/Pelicans NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Los Angeles +1.5

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