Lakers vs. Pelicans Preview and Game Thread: Looking for seven in a row

The Lakers look to continue their dominance against the Pelicans on Tuesday.

The Lakers continue their seven-game homestand as they take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. This will be the second time these two teams face this season with the purple and gold currently leading the series.

L.A. has also beaten New Orleans in seven of their last nine matchups.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans

When: 7:30 PST, Mar 4

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

The Lakers have the chance to extend their incredible winning spree of late against a Pelicans team that’s pretty much playing with house money at this point. Normally, I’d say this should be a game that the purple and gold will win but then I remembered that LA’s three most recent losses have come against teams below .500.

So I really hope that pattern doesn’t continue because it would be ideal if the Lakers maintain sole possession of the second seed in the Western Conference, the best position they’ve been in since 2021.

Perhaps what should keep the Lakers focused is that the Pels have been winning recently. They enter Tuesday’s contest as winners of four of their last five. Yes, they’re wins against teams like the Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz, but that’s still something. They’re in a good grove right now, plus Zion Williamson is not only in the best shape he’s been in years but is also playing well right now.

With Williamson expected to be healthy and active in this one as well as CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III and Kelly Olynyk, the Pels have multiple weapons to employ. They’re a well-balanced scoring team, perhaps because our good old friend Brandon Ingram isn’t taking up many of those touches anymore. The key for Los Angeles is to make sure no Pelican gets hot in this one.

I’d say this will be a huge test for the Lakers’ defense, particularly in the interior, but these last few weeks have given me enough sample data to believe in this team’s performance on that side of the court. Williamson presents a unique challenge, so it’ll be interesting to see how JJ Redick game plans for him. Will the Lakers go small or keep Jaxson Hayes and Trey Jamison III out there? That should be something to watch out for.

Speaking of something to watch out for, this is another game for the Lakers to keep building on what’s going so well for them. I think I can speak on behalf of Lakers fans right now when I say that watching Luka Dončić and LeBron James play together has been such a delightful and spiritual experience. It’s honestly been a joy to watch these Lakers over the last month and it’s something that I hope never ends.

But while it’s here, let’s enjoy this moment and the wins that have come along with it. Hopefully, the Lakers rack up another one on Tuesday and continue to roll. They should do so given their difficult schedule ahead.

Based on the opponent’s record, this one will be one of their easiest game this month and they should take advantage of that.

Notes and Updates

• For the Lakers’ injury report, LeBron James (left foot injury management) is probable.
• Luka Dončić (right knee contusion) and Austin Reaves (right calf strain) are questionable. It’s a good sign that Austin is considered questionable for this one, which further proves that his recent injury scare wasn’t very serious after all. As for Dončić, he did have to go to the locker room in the middle of the game against the L.A. Clippers last Sunday but stated afterward that he was fine.
• Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy), Jordan Goodwin (right ankle sprain) and Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery recovery) are out.
• As for the Pels, Brandon Boston (left ankle sprain) and Herbert Jones (torn rotator cuff) are out.
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.