The final week of the NBA regular season is upon us, and the 10 teams to play extra basketball in each conference have been set — but we still don’t know the exact order in the East and West. Here’s a look at two intriguing early-week matchups that involve playoff seeding.

The winner of Tuesday’s game will advance to the playoffs for a Round 1 matchup against defending NBA champion Denver (No. 2 seed). The loser will host the winner of the Golden State-Sacramento game for the final spot in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Lakers vs. Pelicans 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Game Info

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— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 15, 2024

• When: Tuesday, April 16th, 2024, 7:30 PM ET
• Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
• TV: TNT, truTV
• Radio: 98.7FM ESPN New York (Lakers) // 670 The Score AM (Pelicans)
• Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Odds: Lakers (+1) // Pelicans (-1)

Why bet on the Los Angeles Lakers?

It’s the third time in franchise history that the Lakers are in the play-in tournament. In 2021, they were the No. 7 seed and beat No. 8 Golden State 103-100 to move on as the overall West No. 7 seed. Last year, the Lakers were also a No. 7 and beat No. 8 Minnesota 108-102 in overtime behind 30 points and 10 rebounds from LeBron James. The Lakers would get all the way to the West Finals last year after winning that game.

Los Angeles won the season series this year 3-1 after a 124-108 win in New Orleans on Sunday. LeBron had the 112th triple-double of his career and fifth this season with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 17 assists along with five steals. He became the second-oldest player in NBA history to put up a triple-double at 39 years and 106 days old. He has been great all season, averaging 25.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists, and no other player in NBA history has reached those statistical milestones after their 10th season.

The big worry from Sunday was fellow star Anthony Davis leaving with back spasms, but he fully expects to play Tuesday against his former Pelicans team. Davis managed 30 points and 11 rebounds before leaving. Davis explained that his back locked up when he got shoved in the air by Larry Nance Jr.

“I feel good. Larry (Nance Jr.) just gave me a little shove on the back. My back just locked up on me. Nothing concerning, but I was in the air so obviously it was a dangerous play. I know he’s not a dirty player, but when I’m in the air and get shoved in the back, now my back is in hyperextension and it just locks up. But nothing concerning for me at all,” said Davis, who appeared in a career-high 76 games this season and averaged 24.7 points and a career-high 12.6 rebounds. “Yeah. No doubt that I’m gonna play.”

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham told reporters that Davis suffered a “spasm” he described as “nothing major” and that he’s “extremely optimistic” that Davis will play on Tuesday. Davis echoed Ham’s optimism while accusing Nance of a “dangerous play.” The good news for Davis is that he doesn’t have to fly. The Lakers will remain in New Orleans ahead of Tuesday’s game.

Why bet on the New Orleans Pelicans?

New Orleans is in the play-in tournament for a third straight year. In 2022, it was the no. 9 seed and beat San Antonio by 10 to advance to face the No. 8 LA Clippers and the Pelicans won that as well, 105-101, to advance as the No. 8 seed. Last year, the Pels were the No. 9 and lost 123-118 to Oklahoma City.

Had New Orleans won on Sunday, it would have been the No. 6 seed, but instead Phoenix got it with its upset victory at Minnesota and the Pelicans’ loss to the Lakers. CJ McCollum provided 25 points, seven assists and four rebounds in the loss. McCollum finished his second full season in New Orleans with averages of 20.0 points, 4.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 45.9% from the floor. He is the only player in the NBA to average 20-plus points, 1.6 or fewer turnovers per game and shoot 42% or better from three-point range this season.

Zion Williamson shot 4-of-13 from the floor and finished Sunday’s loss to the Lakers with just 12 points, but also eight rebounds and eight assists. Williamson finished the 2023-24 season with 22.9 points, 5.8 boards and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 57.0% from the floor. The rebounds and FG% are career lows, but the assists are a career high, and most importantly, so are the games played with 70.

Since March 1, Zion is ranked 5th in field goal percentage in the NBA, shooting 56.9% from the field. He is second in the NBA in points in the paint per game, averaging 17.7 PITP and is one of three players league-wide to average 22-plus points and shoot 57% or better from the field this season.

In his first game in 24 days, Brandon Ingram provided some early offense and didn’t look overly rusty while coming back from the March 21 knee injury he sustained at Orlando. The eighth-year forward finished with 13 points on 6/9 shooting, grabbing five rebounds.

Lakers vs. Pelicans Betting Trends

• Los Angeles is 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games.
• Lakers are 11-3 SU in its last 14 games.
• The total went over in 6 of LA Lakers’ last 7 games.
• New Orleans is 4-8 ATS in the last 12 games.
• Pelicans are 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
• The total went over in 4 of New Orleans’ last 5 games against the Lakers.

Lakers vs. Pelicans 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Game Prediction

The Pelicans take the win on Tuesday night and advance to the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023-24 NBA season previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online crypto sportsbook.

READ MORE: Warriors vs. Kings 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Odds & Preview