The Lakers will face the Pelicans for the second time this season on Sunday.
The Lakers will finish off the remaining two matchups in their current four-game homestand with back-to-back games against the New Orleans Pelicans (3-17) and the Phoenix Suns (12-9), starting on Sunday with the latter.
L.A. looks to extend it’s winning streak to eight by the time these two games are over.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
When: 6:30 p.m. PT, Nov. 30
Where: Crypto.com Arena
Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet
Before we dive into the Lakers’ upcoming match against the Pelicans, let’s take time to appreciate the month they’ve had. In case you haven’t noticed, L.A. has won 12 out of its last 14 games. They’re 4-0 since LeBron James returned to the lineup and are 8-2 on the road and 6-2 at home. Some individual stats include:
- Luka Doncic leading the league in scoring (35.1 points per game) and second in assists (9.4).
- Austin Reaves averaging 28.5 points per game, which is ninth-best in the league. He’s doing this while also nabbing 5.9 rebounds and dishing out 6.7 assists per game.
- Deandre Ayton is averaging 15.6 points per game along with 8.4 rebounds per game.
- Oh, we didn’t even mention LeBron James, who has put up 16.5 points per game along with 8.3 assists so far.
Suffice it to say that the Lakers’ are really good and that their key players are clicking. That’s how they’re able to put together one winning streak after another, with this current one potentially extending to eight by the end of their next set of games.
What makes this team a fun watch to begin the season is that oftentimes, they’re simply just better than their opponent. Do they have their flaws? Yes. Are they on the same tier as the Oklahoma City Thunder? No. But they’re trying to get there and are having a whole lot of fun doing it. As each game passes, we’re learning something new about this team and we have the opportunity to do so once again in their matchup against the Pelicans on Sunday.
The Pelicans, who will be on the second night of a back-to-back, will enter this one slightly healthier compared to when they last faced the Lakers two weeks ago. This time, Zion Williamson is back in their lineup, so that alone makes a huge difference for them. Remember, the Pels put up a strong fight against the purple and gold in their last match to the point that it went down to the wire, so it’s safe to assume that they’re going to aim to do the same tomorrow.
This time though, the Lakers could have LeBron, who is listed as questionable. If he suits up, that should significantly help them because the Pelicans don’t have anyone to put on him with Herb Jones and Trey Murphy recovering from their own respective injuries. New Orleans will likely depend on Williamson and Saddiq Bey, who will impose their will and challenge Los Angeles’ frontcourt defense. On top of that, they have guys like Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen and Jose Alvarado, who all made their presence felt last game.
Still, the Lakers should be able to manage this Pelicans team, especially knowing that they’re playing with rest advantage and at home. It would be nice to see another collective effort type of win, one that will get them an early breather and fresh enough to face the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Let’s see if the Lakers can extend their winning streak to seven after tomorrow’s game against the Pelicans.
Notes and Updates
- For the Lakers injury report, LeBron James (left foot injury management) has been added back to the list and is noted as questionable. Marcus Smart (back spasms) is doubtful while Bronny James (G League) is out.
- The Pels won’t release an injury report for this one because they’re playing on Saturday but note that Jordan Poole (left quad strain), Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rapture), Trey Murphy III (right elbow soreness), Karlo Matkovic (right calf strain), Herbert Jones (right calf strain) and Jordan Hawkins (illness) were listed as out against the Golden State Warriors.
