The Pelicans play host to the Lakers in the first 2023/24 NBA Play-in fixture.
These two sides met on four occasions in the regular season, with the Lakers winning that series 3-1, including a win in New Orleans on the 15th April.
NOLA finished the season with a 49-33 record, though they were only 21-19 at home.
Meanwhile, LA finished with a 47-35 record, 19-21 on the road.
We can crunch the numbers all we want, but at the end of the day the Lakers have something the Pels never will, LeBron James.
King LeBron has more finals experience than the entire New Orleans franchise dating back to day dot.
I have the Lakers standing up under pressure and securing a Play-offs spot against the reigning champs.
Age & Experience vs Youth & Enthusiasm
The decaying Dubs head up the road to Sacramento to take on the Kings in a do-or-die play-in match-up.
The winner of this fixture will take on the loser of Pels vs Lakers for the right to play top seed OKC in the opening round of the Play-offs.
This pair met four times in the regular season, winning two games a piece, with both fixtures in Sacramento decided by under 1.5 points!
I’m expecting a similar arm wrestle to occur here, with the game decided by the last shot.
The Warriors have been in play-off mode for about 5 weeks now, scrapping their way up to 10th spot in the West.
I think old might make way for new here, with the Kings coving the generous +3 handicap at home.