Game Day: The New Orleans Pelicans host the Los Angeles Lakers

The New Orleans Pelicans will be well represented in Los Angeles this weekend for the NBA All-Star game. Tonight, they’ll face the Lakers in the second of four meetings.

The New Orleans Pelicans will host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight before the NBA All-Star break. When it comes to the Lakers, you’ll usually see a few number 24 jerseys in the stands. The purple and gold can see in throughout arenas across the country when the Lakers come to town.

Now, the Lakers are a team who is constantly clearing cap space, attempting to bring in superstar free agents. They’re young, they’re talented, and they’re starting to figure out how to win without Lonzo Ball. Ball hasn’t played since January 13th after suffering an ankle sprang. The Lakers were very active on the trade deadline giving Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to the Cavs for Channing Frye and Isaiah Thomas.

This is the second meeting between these two Western Conference foes. The New Orleans Pelicans won the first meeting 119-112 in Los Angeles Angels. Anthony Davis was efficient in that game, scoring 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting. The earlier meeting occurred in October and was just the third of the season for the two teams.

Keys to victory against the Los Angeles Lakers

The New Orleans Pelicans will have to rely on their transition defense against the Lakers. The Lakers average 17.1 fastbreak points per game. Emeka Okafor and Anthony Davis will be assigned with guarding the likes of Brook Lopez and Julius Randle who can dominate the paint. The Lakers average 53.1 points in the paint on a nightly basis.

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Rajon Rondo will get the task of guarding Brandon Ingram who has blossomed in his new role, playing point while Ball is sidelined. Ingram is averaging 16.9 points a game and has a PER of 13.3.

The Lakers are 4-1 during their last five games. The Pelicans will need to utilize their size and strength to outrebound the Lakers and cut down on second-chance opportunities. Davis should have a field day in the paint against the Laker defense, one of the worst defenses in the league.

This the final game for the New Orleans Pelicans before venturing to the All-Star break. There is no doubt that the players around the NBA are looking forward to the much-needed break and rest. Once the All-Star break ends, it’s back to work as the Pelicans will make a final push to make the playoffs.

The New Orleans Pelicans playoff outlook

This game is very important for the Pelicans. A Loss tonight, could bounce the Pelicans out of the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff race. The Pelicans, Thunder, Nuggets, Trailblazers, and Clippers all have 26 losses. The Timberwolves have 25 losses and the Spurs have 24 losses on the season. This means, that every game matters. The Pelicans must continue to build on their two-game winning streak.

Next: New Orleans Pelicans All-Time Starting Five

The Thunder are playing tonight on the road in Memphis after falling to Cleveland last night on TNT. The Trailblazers will take on the Warriors at home tonight on ESPN.