The New Orleans Pelicans don’t want to play their superstar Davis the rest of the season because he doesn’t want to be there, will absolutely be traded this summer and the team wants to lose as much as possible to potentially improve its 2019 first-round draft pick. However, the NBA has told the Pelicans they will be fined $100,000 for every game they sit a healthy Davis.

It’s well known that Davis wants to play for the Lakers – his agent is Rich Paul, who happens to be a good buddy and the agent to Lakers star LeBron James. Will Davis play Wednesday? He should as it’s not the front or back end of back-to-back, which is a scenario where the Pelicans can at least justify sitting him. I’m sure the L.A. crowd will serenade Davis with some sort of chants on Wednesday. But the Pelicans don’t care what he wants as they will trade Davis to the team that gives them the best overall offer this summer. That might be Boston.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Lakers and Pelicans have split two meetings, each winning at home. They played Saturday in the Big Easy and New Orleans prevailed 128-115 with Davis out in the second of a back-to-back. That crowd was not friendly to LeBron for his role in orchestrating all this. James also publicly criticized his teammates after that loss, questioning whether they have what it takes to get this club into the playoffs. He did his part Saturday with 27 points, 12 assists and four steals.

The favorite has covered seven of the past eight in the series.

New Orleans Pelicans

Davis was back in the lineup Monday, but New Orleans lost 111-110 at home to Philadelphia, which was missing its best player, Joel Embiid. The Pels were down 10 with 2:48 left and had a chance to win on their final possession, but E’Twaun Moore couldn’t get off a very good shot. Moore wasn’t supposed to be the guy taking the final shot as Jrue Holiday was.

Davis played just 21 minutes and none in the fourth quarter – his minutes will be very limited the rest of the way – and had 18 points. Julius Randle had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Elfrid Payton 10 points and 14 assists. New Orleans is 6-1 ATS in its past seven following a loss.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers’ chances of making the playoffs got a bit longer Monday with an unacceptable 110-105 loss at a Memphis team that is in full tank mode. What made it even more unacceptable is LeBron had challenged his teammates to up their games following Saturday’s defeat. James was great with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, and Brandon Ingram (32 points) and Kyle Kuzma (22 points) had big games, but no one else did much. The bench totaled just seven points.

LeBron also made history by becoming the first player in NBA history to rank in the Top 10 all-time in points and assists; he joined the assists list Monday. The Lakers are 1-5-1 ATS in their past seven vs. teams with a losing record.

Injuries

New Orleans

Julius Randle (C)

Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19

Stanley Johnson (SF)

Out Tues Ankle - 05 / 04 / 19

Julius Randle (C)

Prob Wed Finger - 01 / 04 / 19

Darius Miller (SF)

Mid April Thigh - 28 / 03 / 19

Frank Jackson (PG)

Out Tues Concussion - 27 / 03 / 19

Elfrid Payton (PG)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 27 / 03 / 19

Elfrid Payton (PG)

Prob Tues Wrist - 25 / 03 / 19

Jrue Holiday (PG)

out for season Abdominal - 07 / 03 / 19

E'Twaun Moore (SG)

Mid April Quadricep - 07 / 03 / 19

Jahlil Okafor (C)

Ques Sun Ankle - 07 / 03 / 19

L.A. Lakers

Lance Stephenson (SG)

Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19

Mike Muscala (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19

Injuries

New Orleans

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Julius Randle (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 09 / 04 / 19	1-0	1-0	+ -
Randle is not expected to suit up against the Warriors on Tuesday due to a day of rest.
Stanley Johnson (SF)	Out Tues	Ankle - 05 / 04 / 19	1-2	2-1	+ -
Johnson has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games with a left ankle contusion and will not face the Warriors on Tuesday.
Julius Randle (C)	Prob Wed	Finger - 01 / 04 / 19	1-3	3-1	+ -
Randle was lifted from the last game due to a left index finger injury but is expected to play Wednesday against the Hornets.
Darius Miller (SF)	Mid April	Thigh - 28 / 03 / 19	2-4	5-1	+ -
Miller is expected to miss one to two weeks after being diagnosed with a grade one left adductor strain.
Frank Jackson (PG)	Out Tues	Concussion - 27 / 03 / 19	2-4	5-1	+ -
Jackson has sat out the past five games due to a concussion and will not draw back into the lineup against the Warriors on Tuesday.
Elfrid Payton (PG)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 27 / 03 / 19	2-4	5-1	+ -
Payton is projected to play Thursday against the Kings despite a right wrist contusion.
Elfrid Payton (PG)	Prob Tues	Wrist - 25 / 03 / 19	2-5	5-2	+ -
Payton is dealing with a right wrist contusion but is expected to suit up against the Hawks on Tuesday.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	out for season	Abdominal - 07 / 03 / 19	4-12	9-6-1	+ -
Holiday is recovering from a core muscle surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
E'Twaun Moore (SG)	Mid April	Quadricep - 07 / 03 / 19	4-12	9-6-1	+ -
Moore is sidelined due to a left quadriceps contusion and is likely to remain out of action until the middle of April.
Jahlil Okafor (C)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 07 / 03 / 19	4-12	9-6-1	+ -
Okafor left the last game with a left ankle sprain and it is unclear if it will impede his status for Sunday's game against the Hawks.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Lance Stephenson (SG)	Ques Tues	Foot - 09 / 04 / 19	1-0	1-0	+ -
Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Ques Tues	Neck - 04 / 04 / 19	2-2	2-2	+ -
Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Tues	Foot - 01 / 04 / 19	3-2	3-2	+ -
Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Ques Tues	Flu - 26 / 03 / 19	7-2	4-5	+ -
Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 24 / 03 / 19	7-3	4-6	+ -
Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.
Mike Muscala (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets.
Josh Hart (SG)	out for season	Knee - 21 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Josh Hart (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 18 / 03 / 19	7-5	5-7	+ -
Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday.

Pelicans vs. Lakers Prediction