The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans was buzzing with anticipation on January 6, 2026, as the struggling New Orleans Pelicans prepared to host the surging Los Angeles Lakers in a high-stakes NBA showdown. For the Pelicans, mired in a seven-game losing streak and desperate for a spark, the return home offered a glimmer of hope against a Lakers squad that had been relentless both at home and on the road. The stakes? More than just another regular-season victory—it was a chance for New Orleans to stop the bleeding and for Los Angeles to solidify its place near the top of the Western Conference.
Tip-off was set for 8:00 p.m. ET, with fans tuning in across various platforms from SportsNet LA and Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network to NBA TV and the ESPN app. The game also streamed live on Fubo, ensuring no shortage of ways to catch every moment of the action. The energy in the building was palpable, and with the Lakers entering as 5.5-point favorites (betting odds fluctuated between -5.5 and -6.5 for Los Angeles), the pressure was on for the Pelicans, who had lost four straight at home and now faced a daunting challenge.
Coming into the matchup, the Lakers boasted a 22-11 record, including an impressive 12-5 mark on the road, and were riding high after a clutch 120-114 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Luka Dončić, who has been nothing short of spectacular this season, poured in 36 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out eight assists in that game. LeBron James, ever the ageless wonder, added 26 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists. Jake LaRavia chipped in with a surprising 26 points, showing that the Lakers’ depth was a real asset.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans’ season had been a rollercoaster. After a brief five-game win streak in mid-December, injuries and inconsistency sent them tumbling back down the standings. Their record stood at 8-29, and the most recent game—a 125-106 road loss to the Miami Heat—highlighted their struggles. Trey Murphy III was a bright spot, dropping 27 points on seven made threes, along with eight rebounds and five assists. Zion Williamson, still working his way back into peak form, managed 12 points in just 26 minutes. Jeremiah Fears added 21 points, but the team’s defensive woes remained glaring.
Injuries were a major storyline on both sides. The Lakers were without Austin Reaves (left calf strain), Rui Hachimura (right calf strain), and Adou Thiero (knee), while Gabe Vincent was listed as questionable with a back issue. The Pelicans, for their part, missed Trey Alexander (right hip strain), Saddiq Bey (hip), Dejounte Murray (leg), and Hunter Dickinson, with Herbert Jones questionable due to a right ankle sprain. These absences forced both teams to dig deeper into their benches, testing the mettle of role players on a big stage.
Statistically, the matchup promised fireworks. The Over/Under for total points scored soared as high as 244.5, reflecting the offensive firepower and defensive vulnerabilities on display. The Lakers entered with the league’s seventh-ranked offense, averaging 117.3 points per game, while the Pelicans allowed a whopping 123.1 points per contest—good for 28th in the NBA. New Orleans, meanwhile, managed 115.2 points per game, just a tick below what the Lakers typically surrendered to opponents.
Luka Dončić continued to be the engine for Los Angeles, averaging 33.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. LeBron James contributed 21.2 points and 6.7 assists, still logging heavy minutes and showing little sign of slowing down. The Lakers had already bested the Pelicans twice this season, winning by 12 and 14 points in their previous meetings—both in November. In fact, Los Angeles had taken nine of the last ten matchups between these teams, a testament to their recent dominance in the series.
The Pelicans, though, were not without hope. Zion Williamson was the focal point, averaging 23.5 points and 6.5 rebounds on the year. The pregame consensus was clear: for New Orleans to have a shot, Williamson needed a monster night—perhaps pushing past 25 points and facilitating for teammates. Some analysts predicted he’d eclipse 3.5 assists (with projections around 4.5), banking on increased usage and the Lakers’ tendency to surrender assists on a high percentage of made field goals. “If the tall total for tonight’s game holds up, there will be plenty of points scored in the Crescent City,” noted one preview, highlighting the offensive potential on both sides.
Other key matchups included Deandre Ayton, projected for over 13.5 points, and Jarred Vanderbilt, who was expected to surpass 5.5 rebounds thanks to increased minutes with two Lakers starters sidelined. Betting trends also favored the Over, with the Lakers having gone Over the total in 36 of their last 58 games—a stat that had savvy bettors eyeing another high-scoring affair.
Despite their recent woes, the Pelicans had shown resilience at home, going 11-8-1 against the spread as underdogs. But the Lakers, with a league-best 12-0 record in clutch games and a potent offense, looked poised to exploit New Orleans’ defensive lapses. “The Lakers are down Reaves, but they still have Doncic and LeBron James in this matchup against a New Orleans team that has lost seven games in a row and ranks 27th in the NBA in net rating (-7.6),” wrote one analyst, underscoring the uphill battle facing the Pelicans.
As the teams took the floor, the Smoothie King Center crowd hoped to witness the end of a painful losing streak. Would Zion Williamson rise to the occasion and spark a turnaround, or would the Lakers’ dynamic duo of Dončić and James keep the Pelicans in the doldrums? With both teams missing key contributors and the Over/Under set at a season-high mark, drama was all but guaranteed.
As tip-off arrived, one thing was clear: for the Pelicans, this was more than just another game—it was an opportunity to reclaim pride on their home court, while the Lakers sought to extend their dominance and keep their eyes firmly on a deep postseason run. With playoff implications, individual milestones, and plenty of subplots swirling, NBA fans everywhere were in for a treat as this Western Conference clash unfolded in New Orleans.
