Pelicans Win Streak On The Line With Battle Against Lakers On The Road
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The New Orleans Pelicans (30-21) remain in L.A. to face the Los Angeles Lakers (27-26) Friday night at the Crypto.Com Arena. New Orleans is fresh off its best win of the year, a wire-to-wire victory over the red-hot Clippers on Wednesday. The Lakers lost a close, emotional game to the defending champion Denver Nuggets Thursday night. L.A. is 2-6 this season and a second night of back-to-back games.
New Orleans faces some injury concerns with their big man in the middle. Jonas Valanciunas took a hit to his leg in the second quarter from teammate Brandon Ingram. Valanciunas hobbled a bit and then was ruled out of the game after halftime. Jonas is the only starter to play every game this season for the Pelicans but is listed as questionable for Friday night.
Dec 31, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) as he goes to the basket during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Zion Williamson also appears on the injury report as questionable with a foot injury. Despite the same designation previously, Williamson has played in the last three games, averaging 23 points and six assists per game. New Orleans is on a four-game winning streak, looking to finish strong before the All-Star break. Los Angeles is moving in the opposite direction this year.
The Lakers are fourth in their division and No. 9 overall in the Western Conference. LeBron James continues to be the ageless wonder. In Year 21, James leads the Lakers in points (24.9), assists (7.6) and steals (1.3). His running mate and former Pelicans player Anthony Davis also is having a good year. He is third in the NBA with 40 double-doubles while averaging the fifth-most blocks per game in the league. Despite the consistency of their top players, the Lakers role players are struggling to find their identity.
Los Angeles ranks dead last in three-point attempts (30.7) and No. 28 in three-point makes (11.3). With James and Davis occupying the interior of the floor, the Lakers' lack of outside shooting has hampered their offense tremendously. L.A., like New Orleans, didn't make any moves at the trade deadline to address those needs. Rather, players like Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell will have to pick up the slack to get the Lakers into playoff positioning. The Lakers are 13-16 since winning the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament in December.
New Orleans is looking for its fifth straight win of the season and a sweep of the Los Angeles teams on the road. The Pelicans have beaten the Clippers twice on the road this year, and this is New Orleans only trip to L.A. to play the Lakers in the regular season. The Pels are currently tied with the second-most road wins in the Western Conference. They play two more away from New Orleans before returning home for one home game before the All-Star break.
