The Los Angeles Lakers will be going for a regular-season sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans in this meeting at Crypto.com Arena. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are looking to get back to their winning ways after a stumble in their last game.

Catch this game live on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:30 AM, Manila time

Away: New Orleans Pelicans (19-43, 8-22 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Dejounte Murray
  • Trey Murphy III
  • Herbert Jones
  • Zion Williamson (Questionable)
  • Derik Queen

Notwithstanding their 137-117 beatdown at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers on the road on Monday, the Pelicans have shown much life of late. They are 4-1 straight up in their last five outings, and while two of those victories were against the shamelessly tanking Utah Jazz, the other two were versus .500 or better teams in the Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors. 

It is also worth noting that the Pelicans did not have the services of Zion Williamson in the Clippers game because of an ankle injury, but he could be back in action as soon as this Wednesday against the Lakers. The former Duke Blue Devils star is labeled questionable for that contest at the time of this writing. New Orleans’ offense has been humming lately, as well, having averaged 120.0 points in its last five games – fourth best in the league over the same stretch.

The Pelicans are 3-1 against the spread in their last four games away from home.

Home: Los Angeles Lakers (36-24, 17-12 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Luka Doncic
  • Austin Reaves
  • Marcus Smart
  • LeBron James
  • Deandre Ayton

The Lakers have found their groove back. After three consecutive losses that had LA fans pulling their hair, Luka Doncic and crew have gone 2-0 SU with a 129-101 win over Golden State on the road on Sunday and a 128-104 demolition of the Sacramento Kings at home on Monday. 

Los Angeles can set big expectations for its offense versus the Pelicans, whose porous defense is a major team weakness this season. So far in the 2025-26 campaign, New Orleans is just 26th in the league with a 118.0 defensive efficiency and 26th with a defensive 55.5 eFG%. Moreover, the Lakers have averaged 120.7 points and shot 50.4 percent from the field in the first three meetings with the Pelicans. On the season, LA is seventh in the NBA with 117.5 points per 100 possessions and second with a 57 eFG%.

The Lakers are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 home games against New Orleans.

Picks

Spread: New Orleans Pelicans (+8.0)
Over/Under: Over (238.5)