On Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers (8‑4) travel to the Crescent City to face the New Orleans Pelicans (2‑9) at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Lakers enter this contest as heavy favorites, while the Pelicans are still trying to find their footing this season. The Lakers are looking to bounce back from a loss to the defending champs. Can Luka Doncic lead them to a win on the road? Continue reading to get my Lakers vs Pelicans prediction for tonight.
Our Lakers vs Pelicans Pick
- Pick: Los Angeles Lakers ‑9.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Los Angeles Lakers @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Date & Time: Friday, November 14, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
- The Lakers are dealing with significant injury issues. LeBron James is out with sciatica, Gabe Vincent is out with an ankle injury, and Adou Thiero is questionable with a knee issue. But they are off to an 8-4 start even with those injuries and they could have LeBron back within the next week.
- Despite the injuries, the Lakers have been getting strong production from Luka Dončić (34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 8.9 assists per game) and Austin Reaves (28.3 points, 8.3 assists per game). That duo has been incredible and is largely responsible for the Lakers’ early-season success.
- The Pelicans are in disarray from an injury standpoint. Key players such as Dejounte Murray (Achilles) and Jordan Poole (knee) are out. Zion Williamson also remains sidelined with a hamstring issue. Their offensive numbers are among the worst in the league and the absence of that trio is a big reason for their struggles putting the ball in the basket.
- New Orleans averages just 108.8 points per game (29th in the NBA) and allows 121.6 points (26th in the NBA). The Lakers average 115.9 points per game and allow 116.9 points per game. The Lakers are not dominant defensively, but the Pelicans are significantly worse on both ends.
Head‑to‑Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first time the Lakers and Pelicans have met this season. It is the first of four games between these teams in the regular-season.
- The Lakers are 8‑4 overall this season and 5‑2 away from home.
- New Orleans is 2-9 overall and 1-3 at home.
- New Orleans is 5-5-1 against the spread this season.
- The Lakers are 8-4 against the spread entering Friday night.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Luka Dončić | Over 34.5 points |
| Austin Reaves | Over 6.5 assists |
Lakers vs Pelicans Model Projection
Score Projection: Lakers 118 – Pelicans 102
Win Probability: Lakers 79%, Pelicans 21%
Final Thoughts
The Pelicans are a bottom-five team in the NBA in both offensive rating and defensive rating this season. I don’t expect them to put up much of a fight against Doncic, Reaves, and the rest of the Lakers lineup. My recommendation for this game in the betting markets is to lay the points with the Lakers, who should continue building momentum before the anticipated return of LeBron James in the near future.
