Lakers vs Pelicans Preview and Game Thread: Time to pounce

The Lakers look to improve their performance on the road by taking advantage of an unhealthy Pelicans team

Fresh off their respective NBA Cup games on Friday, the Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans will go to battle under 24 hours later in the latter’s home court. L.A. looks to sweep their two-game road trip.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans

When: 5 p.m. PT, Nov 15

Where: Smoothie King Center

Watch: Spectrum SportsNet

The Lakers will visit a Pelicans team that, frankly, has had a nightmare start to their season. Besides having the current worst record in the competitive Western Conference and being second from the bottom of the league overall, the Pels have been attacked hard by the injury bug. It’s pretty much just been Brandon Ingram alongside their second- and third-stringers.

So, by default, this should be a very manageable game for the purple and gold to conquer. They have to take advantage of a game like this, especially since this Pelicans team only just snapped a lengthy losing streak on Friday with a win over the Nikola Jokic-less Nuggets.

This team struggles to score the ball, ranking dead last in the NBA in points per game. It’s the perfect opportunity for the Lakers to pounce.

The ideal scenario here is for role players such as Austin Reaves, Max Christie — who got a lot of minutes against the Spurs — Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent to match the Pelicans’ own supporting cast. This is not a game where the Lakers should have to rely heavily on Anthony Davis and LeBron James to take them home. It’ll be nice to finish this one early, especially since L.A. will have two days off after this two-game road trip.

Now more than ever, the Lakers must take advantage of every unhealthy opponent they face. Winning games in today’s league doesn’t come easy and looking at their next few games, the purple and gold have the opportunity to continue stacking here and climb up the standings. It’s time to seize the moment.

Let’s see if the Lakers can do exactly that against the Pelicans on Saturday.

Notes and Updates

• The Lakers won’t release an injury report until a few hours before Friday’s game, but expect Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery recovery), Jaxson Hayes (left ankle sprain), Christian Wood (left knee surgery recovery) and Jalen Hood-Schifino (left groin soreness) to remain out.
• Rui Hachimura (right ankle sprain) was downgraded to out moments before the Spurs game. His status remains uncertain as well for tomorrow’s game against the Pels.

• Same goes for the Pels, who most likely won’t have Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Jordan Hawkins (low back strain), Hebert Jones (right shoulder strain), CJ McCollum (right adductor strain), Dejounte Murray (left hand fracture) and Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain) on Saturday.
• A stat I always like to revisit every time the Lakers face the Pelicans: Anthony Davis is 11-3 vs. the Pelicans in his career. Do as you wish with that.
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.