Game Time: 10:00 PM ET, Friday, April 1st, 2022 

Venue:  Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread:  Pelicans -1.5; O/U 230.5

Fanduel:  Spread:  Pelicans -1.5; O/U 230.5

BetMGM:  Spread: Pelicans -1.5; O/U 230.5

Pelicans: 33-43 9th place Western Conference

Lakers: 31-45, 11th place Western Conference

An NBA Western Conference matchup between teams that are not supposed to matter to each other.. But they do. The Los Angeles Lakers won the Championship just two seasons ago in the Bubble final.  They got a trophy, LeBron and Ad got a ring.  That was a very short time ago.  The New Orleans Pelicans have never won a Championship and maybe never will.  The Lakes are in 11th place barely.. And the Pelicans are in 9th place by 1 ½  games over the Lakers.  It is dumb that we have to worry about the outcome of this game… but with the “play-in” tournament as an actual thing now.. It makes it a very big deal!!  Where should we put our betting dollars knowing that these are both losing teams while waiting on finding out who will eliminate them?  The great betting opportunity will be clear once we run the numbers.  

The New Orleans Pelicans have won 6 of their last ten games.  They went 6-4 ATS during that stretch.  The Pelicans are perennial cellar dwellers in the Western Conference, but they have been vastly improved with the addition of SG CJ McCollum.  CJ does what PF Zion Williamson can’t… he plays games.  They are on a 2-game winning streak with the last one against Portland.  It was the first time CJ played in Portland as not a member of the Trail Blazers.  The Portland crowd gave CJ a nice ovation upon his return… and the energized shooting guard dropped 25 points on 9 for 16 shooting.  CJ got help from SF Brandon Ingram and C Jonas Valanciunas who each put in 19 points.  PF Jaxson Hayes is coming along with all the playing time he gets… He had 18 pts… and the Pelicans ran away with it.  The formula for wins in New Orleans is that triumvirate of McCollum, Ingram, and Valanciunas.  They should get some additional roster help this offseason with a double dip in the NBA draft and with PG Kira Lewis Jr returning from injury in time for next season.  

The Los Angeles Lakers have won only 2 of their last ten games as they have slid from 9th to 11th and out of “play-in” if the season ended today.  They went 4-6 ATS.  They are on a 5-game losing streak.  LeBron skipped the last two games with ankle trouble and is listed as PROBABLE for this game.  Additionally, Anthony Davis is going to give it a “try” against New Orleans and is listed as Questionable.  In the last game against Utah the point spread had some funny movement to it.  The day before the game it was available at 13 on some sites… it jumped to 13.5 and then jumped again to 14.  The bettors that got in early and bet on Utah at -13 were treated to a Push… everyone else lost ATS as the Lakers lost by exactly 13 points!  Uggh.  In this game the spread should be moving around as well… who knows until tip off if Lebron and AD actually play or actually sit out?... Pay close attention to those jumps in the line.

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New Orleans is 33-43 on the season, but 38-37-1 ATS.  They have logged 29 Overs, 45 Unders, and 1 Push. They are 15-22 on the road.

Los Angeles is 31-45 on the season, but 32-43-1 ATS.  They have notched 43 Overs, 32 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 20-18 at home.

Our prediction for Friday, April 1st is…. Pelicans 118 - Lakers 115

The Lakers will lose to CJ and the boys.  All the hype of the Lakers being busted is going to make the scrubs that play around LeBron and AD play very tight basketball.  The hope of the play-in for the Pelicans will keep them focused. 

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The Lakers are 2-1 ATS versus New Orleans in Los Angeles the last 3 seasons.

3 of 4 games in this matchup have gone UNDER the last 3 seasons.

The Lakers are 8-2 ATS off a road loss by 10 points or more this season.