[8:10 PM] Lakers @ Pelicans

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Lakers (9-9)

@ New Orleans Pelicans (6-12)

 

• The 23-year-old Davis leads the NBA in scoring (31.6) and blocked shots (2.8) and ranks eighth in rebounding (10.9) and carries the squad on a near-nightly basis. He poured in 36 points and collected 13 rebounds Sunday but the Pelicans were ghastly overall while suffering a 91-81 loss to the lowly Dallas Mavericks.

• Los Angeles hopes to get power forward Julius Randle (hip) back from a three-game absence as it begins a stretch of four road games in five nights.

• The losses of Randle and point guard D’Angelo Russell (knee) have been minimized in part by the continuation of the superb bench production the team is receiving. The reserves combined for 65 points in Sunday’s 109-94 victory over the Atlanta Hawks as guards Lou Williams (21 points) and Jordan Clarkson (18) and forward Larry Nance Jr. (12 points, 10 rebounds) all had solid performances

• New Orleans briefly played well upon the return of guard Jrue Holiday from a personal situation but back-to-back defeats have stunted the momentum and raised questions about the effort. “It was the same thing,” Davis said after Sunday’s loss. Davis is averaging 37.3 points over the past three games and has recorded 12 30-points outings in 17 games played.

• The Lakers won three of the past four meetings, including a 126-99 victory Nov. 12.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: New Orleans Pelicans

Confidence: 4/10

Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Previous Pick
Next Pick