Pelicans vs. Lakers: No Looking Ahead To All-Star Break
New Orleans, La.- The New Orleans Pelicans are headed back to Hollywood for their final game before the NBA's All-Star break. The Pelicans (30-28) have won four of the last five games and could possibly jump back into the Western Conference's top-6 with a win and some help. The Los Angeles Lakers (26-32) have lost four of their last five, including a 131-126 loss in the Smoothie King Center.
Los Angeles is currently 3.5 games out of the 10th seed, the cutoff for the NBA's Playoff Play-In. LeBron James is no longer chasing history and might not even suit up tonight. James (left ankle soreness) is questionable. Anthony Davis (right foot) is listed as probable to play against his former team.
- When: February 15 @ 9:00 PM CST
- Where: Crypto.com Arena
- Watch: Bally Sports NO
- Listen: WRNO 99.5FM
Nov 2, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
CJ McCollum (right ankle sprain) missed Monday’s win in Oklahoma City and is listed as questionable. Zion Williamson (right hamstring strain), Dyson Daniels (right ankle sprain), and E.J. Liddell (right knee ACL injury recovery) are listed as out.
Jose Alvarado started in place of McCollum against the Thunder and helped spark a first-half surge to a 20-point lead. The Pelicans fumbled away the lead and had to survive a last-second potentially game-tying shot from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to secure the victory.
Alvarado's energy should disrupt a team short on ballhandlers, especially if James sits this one out. If the scoring champ does not suit up for the new-look Lakers, Brandon Ingram will get to attack a defense that has barely played together.
Ingram needed a few games to knock off some rust following a nearly two-month layoff due to a toe injury but now looks to be in All-Star form. He is averaging 30 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds on 55% shooting from the floor in the past five games.
Mar 27, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) runs into and is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) in the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won, 116-108. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
The whole team looks more confident and comfortable with Ingram in the lineup and it allows them to play more on the front foot instead of being reactionary. Younger contributors think less and play better when Ingram is on the court. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said New Orleans, “threw the first punch. They were more physical, more alert in the first quarter, and it took us a long time to get it going.”
Willie Green's squad will need that same focus to find another road victory before the break. Anthony Davis can still be dangerous. He has averaged 27.0 points, 15.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks vs. NOLA in two prior meetings. Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance Jr. will have to throw different looks at Davis to keep the All-Star from having a highlight reel game.
LeBron is averaging 30.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Davis and Rui Hachimura have meshed well in the past two weeks but the jury is still out on if the new supporting cast can find a way to win without LeBron. A loss would drop the Lakers to 4.5 games behind the 10th seed with just 23 games remaining.
The season series between these two rivals is split. Both teams won on their home court, though the Lakers did need some overtime luck a few weeks ago. New Orleans has only won 10 road games all year (10-18), the worst record among the playoff contenders. Can the Pelicans snatch a victory, ensuring they cannot lose a tiebreaker to the Lakers?
Fans will have to stay up late for the west coast tipoff but, considering the playoff implications and looming-week long break, this marque matchup in downtown L.A. should get plenty of attention despite a lack of star power.
Expected Starting Lineups:
Lakers: Dennis Schroder, D'Angelo Russell, Troy Brown Jr., Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis
Pelicans: Jose Alvarado, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas
