Lakers vs. Pelicans prediction: Lakers to win, Luka Doncic projected for big game in Friday's NBA Cup matchup [11/14/2025]

The New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers will meet in NBA Cup action at Smoothie King Center on Friday, with tipoff at 8:00PM ET.

Based on updated simulations and today’s injury news, Dimers' advanced NBA model projects the Lakers as the most likely winner of the Lakers vs. Pelicans game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Pelicans lineup will feature players like Trey Murphy, Saddiq Bey and Jeremiah Fears, while the Lakers will be led by Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton.

LeBron James will miss the game though with the superstar out for this one.

This article offers a closer look at Friday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Lakers vs. Pelicans prediction: Who will win NBA Cup game?

As part of Dimers' NBA predictions coverage—and following a review of recent results—our pregame model has generated moneyline, spread, and over/under probabilities for Friday's clash between the Lakers and Pelicans.

According to our model, the Pelicans (+9.5) have a 53% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 227.5 points has a 51% chance of going over.

Lakers vs. Pelicans odds

We have sourced the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Lakers vs. Pelicans picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

According to our best NBA bets for Friday, the top play to make on this game is Pelicans +9.5 at the spread.

Lakers vs. Pelicans player props

NBA prop bets are a popular way to wager on the LA Lakers vs. New Orleans game without necessarily betting on the outcome. We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Smoothie King Center.

Luka Doncic is expected to lead the Lakers with 32 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, while Trey Murphy is projected to have 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the Pelicans.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and more, for every game this season.

Lakers prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Lakers are:

Pelicans prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Pelicans:

Lakers vs. Pelicans game-day updates and essential details

Friday's matchup between the Pelicans and Lakers at Smoothie King Center is scheduled to commence at 8:00PM ET.

• Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
• Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
• Time: 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT
• Venue: Smoothie King Center
• Tournament details: 2025 Emirates NBA Cup

Conclusion

We predict the Lakers, with a 77% win probability, will likely beat the Pelicans on Friday, with Luka Doncic projected for a game-high 62 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Lakers vs. Pelicans insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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