Lakers vs. Pelicans prediction: Lakers to win, Luka Doncic projected for big game in Tuesday's NBA matchup [1/6/2026]

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

Based on the latest simulations and today’s injury updates, Dimers' proven NBA model predicts 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 Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Jordan Poole, while the Lakers will rely on Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton.

Doncic is expected to shine with a projected 34 points and 4 threes.

This article offers further insights into Tuesday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Lakers vs. Pelicans prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Tuesday's NBA matchup between the Lakers and Pelicans 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our leading predictive model currently gives the Lakers a 69% chance of beating the Pelicans. Our predicted final score has the Lakers winning 124-118.

According to our model, the bookmakers have got it right, and the Lakers and Pelicans each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 244.5 points has a 55% chance of staying under.

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 available 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 Tuesday, the top play to make on this game is Under 244.5 total points.

Lakers vs. Pelicans player props

Looking for Lakers vs. Pelicans NBA prop bets? 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 34 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, while Zion Williamson is projected to have 25 points, 6 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 today's NBA first basket picks.

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

Tuesday's game between the Pelicans and Lakers at Smoothie King Center is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET.

• Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
• Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
• Venue: Smoothie King Center

Conclusion

We predict the Lakers, with a 69% win probability, will likely beat the Pelicans on Tuesday, with Luka Doncic projected for a game-high 65 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 drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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