Lakers vs. Pelicans: The 2024 Play-In Tournament Game to Watch

The postseason rivalry between the Lakers and Pelicans has caught everyone’s attention, taking center stage in the 2024 Play-In Tournament. For nearly five years, fans from Los Angeles and New Orleans have been at odds, their rivalry fueled by a major trade in June 2019 that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers.

Joining forces with LeBron James, Davis became part of a dynamic duo while the Pelicans welcomed former Laker Brandon Ingram and the then-new No. 1 pick, Zion Williamson, setting the stage for an intense matchup.

This game isn’t just about who moves forward in the playoffs; it’s a clash of past and present, of traded legacies facing off, promising a showdown filled with high stakes and deep-rooted competitive spirit.

The Road to the Play-In Tournament: Lakers vs. Pelicans Showdown

After their exciting matchup in the In-Season Tournament, the Lakers and Pelicans are poised to battle it out once again, this time with the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed at stake. This next game is shaping up to be a thrilling encounter.

The Lakers managed to secure their spot by clinching a decisive victory over the Pelicans in the 2023-24 season’s final game. LeBron James led the charge with an impressive triple-double, propelling Los Angeles to the eighth seed and bumping New Orleans out of the top six in the West. For both teams, this scenario feels familiar.

The Lakers have come out on top in the Play-In Tournament’s 7-vs-8 game in both 2021 and 2023, whereas the Pelicans previously snagged a playoff spot as a 9 seed in 2022 but fell short in the same position last year. Fans placing bets on this game should keep an eye on the Lakers betting line, as past performances hint at a potentially intense and competitive game.

While the winner moves into the playoffs, the other still has life. The loser of the Lakers-Pelicans game would host the winner of the Kings-Warriors game with the No. 8 seed on the line.

Lakers vs. Pelicans 2023-24

Throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, the Lakers and Pelicans faced off four times, with Los Angeles winning the series 3-1 against New Orleans. Their confrontations included some high-stakes games that had everyone talking. On December 7, 2023, in the In-Season Tournament semifinals, the Lakers crushed the Pelicans with a stunning score of 133-89, showcasing their dominance early in the season. However, the Pelicans managed to claim a victory on December 31, 2023, beating the Lakers 129-109, taking advantage of a well-rested team against the Lakers, who were coming off a challenging game the previous night.

The Lakers continued to assert their strength in subsequent matchups, winning 139-122 on Feb. 9, 2024, and then again on Sunday 124-108, securing crucial victories for playoff seeding. Notably, none of the games were particularly close, highlighting the consistent performance and superiority of the Lakers in direct confrontations. The smallest margin of victory was 16 points, emphasizing Los Angeles’ ability to control the game’s pace and outcome.

These teams’ meetings were notable not just for their impact on standings but also for the intensity and quality of basketball displayed. With both the In-Season Tournament and the final day of the regular season carrying significant weight for playoff positioning, the Lakers proved they could rise to the occasion, delivering commanding performances when it mattered most. Now, with a level playing field and no travel disadvantages, the upcoming Play-In Tournament game between the Lakers and Pelicans is poised to be a thrilling chapter in this riveting rivalry.

Lakers vs. Pelicans Prediction

Given the edge that Los Angeles has shown in past high-stakes games against New Orleans, it’s safe to predict the Lakers will come out on top in this critical Play-In Tournament game. The history between these two teams reveals that, in moments that matter the most, the Lakers have consistently had the Pelicans’ number.

Advancing in the playoffs to face the defending champion Nuggets might not be the most enticing reward, but the Lakers are well aware of the importance of winning now to avoid a do-or-die situation later in the week. New Orleans is no stranger to this kind of pressure, but Los Angeles’s performance during the regular-season matchups gives them the advantage in this contest.

LeBron James, with his impressive average of 28.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in the series—and especially his standout 28-point, 17-assist, 11-rebound showing in the season’s final game—emerges as the difference-maker.

However, the Lakers’ success may hinge on Anthony Davis’s health following his back and hip issues.