In a star-studded first game of the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament, LeBron James and the Lakers will take on Zion Williamson and the Pelicans in New Orleans on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT). We'll deep-dive this Western Conference clash from a betting standpoint, providing you with the best bets and top props so you can start the postseason with some cash.
The Lakers have been no strangers to the Play-In since the NBA first rolled out the system in 2021. This marks the third time in four years that LeBron, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers have attempted to make the playoffs via the Play-In.
Los Angeles, which finished eighth in the West with a victory over these same Pelicans on Sunday, entered the 2023 Play-In at the same exact positioning in the standings. They proceeded to win their way all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual-champion Nuggets.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, will be making their third consecutive Play-In appearance. New Orleans just got top scorer Brandon Ingram back on Sunday after he missed a dozen games due to a knee injury. The Lakers still trounced the Pels 124-108.
Let's check out the odds for Lakers-Pelicans, and reveal our best bets, picks against the spread and top player props.
Lakers vs. Pelicans NBA Play-In Tournament game: Odds
- Spread: Pelicans -1.5 (-110) | Lakers +1.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Pelicans -120 | Lakers +100
- Total: OVER 224.5 (-110) | UNDER 224.5 (-110)
Lakers vs. Pelicans NBA Play-In Tournament game: Best bets
We just saw these two teams battle it out on Sunday, with New Orleans vying for the sixth seed and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs and L.A. trying to bump up from the ninth seed to the eighth. The Lakers prevailed, winning by 16 and closing out the regular season with three wins over their four meetings with the Pels.
The Pelicans get an immediate chance at revenge, as they can "win and get in" tonight. We just don't see it happening, even if a loss in the 7-8 game could be a blessing in disguise (the winner of this game earns the seventh seed, which means a date with the reigning-champion Nuggets in the first round).
When LeBron, AD, and company are all healthy and locked in, they're still a formidable challenge. James had 15 assists in the first half on Sunday, and finished with 28 points, 17 assists, and 11 rebounds. Davis added 30 points and 11 rebounds.
MORE: Predictions for every Play-In game
The craziest part: James said after the big W that he feels better right now in his age-39 season than he felt at the start of the 2023 Play-In Tournament. Yikes — watch out, NBA.
While AD will always be an injury concern — the Lakers' big has dealt with back, hip, and eye problems over just the past week alone — New Orleans has similar concerns with Williamson and Ingram. The latter just returned from a 12-game absence and Zion has been injured in each of the Pels' past two Play-In appearances.
New Orleans lost their one chance at winning its way into the playoffs last year, failing to get by the Thunder in the 9-10 game. That was on the Pels' home court, just like this one tonight.
The Lakers have won 11 of their past 14 games and continue to be one of the most feared opponents at this time of the year. They should be able to get past the Pels, who have lost eight of their past 12 games and dropped five of their past six meetings with Los Angeles. When in doubt, bet on King James.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Lakers 121, Pelicans 113 — The Lakers win straight up (-110) and cover the spread (+1.5) while the score cruises to the OVER (224.5).
Lakers vs. Pelicans NBA Play-In Tournament game: Top player prop
LeBron James points – OVER 26.5 (-110)
The NBA's all-time leading scorer dropped 30 points in the Lakers' 2023 Play-In Tournament win over Minnesota, and he recently told reporters that he feels better today than he did prior to L.A.'s run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
That's good news, because teammate and expected All-NBA running mate Anthony Davis has been dealing with back, hip, and eye issues. AD has said he will 100 percent be out there competing in New Orleans on Tuesday, but we venture to guess that Bron will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting against the Pels.
MORE: Playoff bracket | Why Lakers losing to Pels could be a blessing
When these teams squared off on the last day of the regular season, Bron dropped a casual 28 points. On the season, he averaged 28.3 points per game on insane shooting splits of 55.1/60.0/93.3. Smash the OVER with confidence.