The Los Angeles Lakers (33-35) will play the New Orleans Pelicans (33-35) in New Orleans on Tuesday. The game will begin at 8:00 PM EST on the court of the Smoothie King Center.
The last time these two teams met, the Lakers won 120-102, and this will be the fourth and final time they meet during the regular season.
Update Injury for Lakers vs. Pelicans game
The Los Angeles Lakers have no plans to slow down now that they have reshaped their roster, overcome significant injuries, and given themselves a chance at a playoff berth with a month left in the regular season.
The Lakers will begin their short two-game road trip on Tuesday with a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and they will play as if the playoffs have begun. Their urgency has only increased after Sunday’s 112-108 home loss to the New York Knicks.
They had trouble scoring, so they’ll need to get hot from the field if they want to challenge the Pelicans on the road.
With star player LeBron James out for six of the previous nine games due to a tendon injury in his right foot, the Lakers entered Sunday’s game with a 7-2 record. If James doesn’t come back in two weeks, it will be a miracle.
- Will Anthony Davis play today?
While Anthony Davis has been the Lakers’ go-to scorer, he has slowed down a bit recently. The forward, who averaged 33 points per game in his previous five games, has dropped to a mere 12.5 points per game over his last two.
Despite Davis’ 16 boards and D’Angelo Russell’s 33 points (continuing his own recent scoring uptick), the Lakers lost on Sunday and are now winless in their first two games of the season. Five losses in a row to start the 2022–23 season didn’t bode well for Los Angeles.
The matchup between Davis and his former team is made more interesting by the fact that the Lakers and Pelicans both have a 33-35 record. There is a tight pack of teams in the Western Conference that are all trying to break into the playoff picture; in fact, four of them share the same record.
The Pelicans, who were once one of the best teams in the West, are now in panic mode after dropping seven of their last 10. However, they have been improving as of late, winning two of their last three.
Coming into this game, the New Orleans Pelicans have just finished a 127-110 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Offensive efficiency will be key to defeating the Lakers at home, where they were red hot.
- Brandon Ingram – Questionable
Despite missing the Pelicans’ last two games with a sprained right ankle, New Orleans’ leading scorer Brandon Ingram (22.9 ppg) is a possibility to play tonight against the Lakers.
If he is out again, Naji Marshall, Jaxson Hayes, and Dyson Daniels could see increased playing time.
After beating the Pelicans 120-117 in overtime on November 2 and 120-102 on February 15 in Los Angeles, the Lakers will look to sweep the season series. On February 4th, former Laker Brandon Ingram scored 35 points as the Pelicans defeated the Lakers 131-126 in New Orleans.
The New Orleans Pelicans
- Brandon Ingram (Ankle) – Questionable
- Zion Williamson (Hamstring) – Out
- Jose Alvarado (Leg) – Out
- E.J. Liddell (Knee) – Out
The Los Angeles Lakers
- Anthony Davis (Foot) – Questionable
- Mo Bamba (Ankle) – Out
- LeBron James (Foot) – Out
