It’s the thick of tanking season in the NBA.
With only a handful of games remaining on their schedule, the New Orleans Pelicans have already thrown in the towel.
After coming into the season with playoff aspirations, New Orleans is 21-55 heading into Friday’s tilt with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Lakers vs. Pelicans betting preview
The Pelicans, who shut down Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum for the season earlier this week, currently have the fourth-best lottery odds in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes and would like it to stay that way.
After recent wins over the 76ers and Hornets that threatened to push them further down the odds board, the Pelicans don’t want any chance at a win at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers, on the other hand, have about as much to play for as any team with the regular season winding down.
They are embroiled in a neck-and-neck battle with the Nuggets for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
Betting on the NBA?
Whoever can secure that No. 3 spot will avoid squaring off against the NBA-best Thunder in the second round.
Even on a back-to-back, I like the Lakers to win relatively easily, with or without LeBron James and/or Luka Doncic in the lineup.
The play: Lakers -14.5 (-110, BetMGM Sportsbook)
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