The Los Angeles Lakers are eyeing their 15th win of the season as they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, and on paper, this matchup leans heavily in L.A.'s favor.
The Pelicans have stumbled out of the gate, dropping 17 of their first 20 games. They've already parted ways with their head coach well before the All-Star break and have been hit hard by the injury bug. That kind of instability has made it tough for New Orleans to find any rhythm, and it shows in the standings.
But while the Lakers are in a far better position, they’re not walking into this one at full strength either. LeBron James, a fixture on the injury report in recent seasons, will be sidelined for this Western Conference showdown due to left foot injury management.
James has already missed a significant chunk of the season - the first 14 games, in fact - as he dealt with sciatica. Since returning, though, he’s been a steadying presence, even in a slightly reduced role. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves taking on more of the offensive load, James has leaned into being a smart, efficient facilitator rather than forcing the issue.
And that shift has paid off. The Lakers have rattled off four straight wins since James rejoined the lineup, thanks in part to his ability to read the floor and pick his spots.
He’s not lighting up the scoreboard like he once did, but his impact is still undeniable. Through the season so far, he’s averaging 16.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 49.1% from the field and 33.3% from deep - solid numbers, especially for a 40-year-old navigating a new role.
With James sitting this one out, the Lakers will lean more heavily on Doncic and Reaves to keep the offense humming. But given the Pelicans’ struggles - both in terms of health and consistency - this is still a game Los Angeles should control from start to finish.
Bottom line: Even without LeBron, the Lakers have the depth, momentum, and matchup advantage to handle business at home.