It is weird how some NBA matchups just feel heavier than others. You look at the schedule, see Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans, and suddenly, a Tuesday night game in January feels like a play-in preview. Honestly, it kind of is.
There is a specific tension here. It’s the "Anthony Davis Trade" tax that New Orleans fans are still paying in emotional labor, mixed with the reality that these two teams are currently heading in completely opposite directions. While the Lakers are out here looking like legitimate title contenders, the Pelicans are basically trying to keep their heads above water in a Western Conference that feels like a shark tank.
What Actually Happened Last Time?
If you missed the January 6, 2026, showdown at the Smoothie King Center, you missed a bizarre one. The Lakers walked away with a 111-103 win, but the score doesn't really tell the whole story.
New Orleans was actually leading 86-79 heading into the final frame. Then, the wheels just fell off. The Lakers went on a 16-4 run. LeBron James and Luka Doncic—yeah, that’s the reality of the 2026 Lakers roster—each dropped 30 points. It was clinical. It was mean.
The Trey Murphy Problem
The wildest part of that game? Trey Murphy III. He went absolutely nuclear for 42 points.
He was hitting everything. Deep threes, contested mid-rangers, you name it. But when you look at the box score, you see the Pelicans only managed 17 points as a team in the fourth quarter. It’s hard to win when your offense turns into a pumpkin the moment the pressure cranks up.
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The Luka Factor in Los Angeles
Let's address the elephant in the room: Luka Doncic is a Laker. It still feels surreal to type that.
The Lakers front office pulled off the impossible, pairing the greatest player of the last generation with the best playmaker of this one. In that January matchup, Luka finished with 30 points, 10 assists, and a handful of those "how did he see that?" passes that make opposing coaches want to retire on the spot.
Watching him and LeBron share the floor is like watching two grandmasters play chess on the same side of the board. They don't just beat you; they dismantle your defensive schemes until you're accidentally double-teaming a guy who isn't even holding the ball.
The Pelicans and the "What If" Cycle
If you’re a Pels fan, you’re probably exhausted. It feels like this team is constantly one "clean bill of health" away from greatness, but that bill never arrives.
- Zion Williamson's Availability: Zion is still the most physically dominant force in the league when he's on the floor. He had 23.5 points per game leading into the new year, but the hamstring issues and lower-body strains continue to haunt the narrative.
- The Defensive Void: Losing Herb Jones to an ankle sprain for a big chunk of late 2025 and early 2026 was catastrophic. Without him, the Pelicans' defensive rating plummeted to 28th in the league.
- The Rookie Spark: Jeremiah Fears, the 7th overall pick from the 2025 draft, has been a bright spot. He’s got that "dog" in him, as the kids say, but asking a rookie to navigate a backcourt against Doncic and Austin Reaves is a tall order.
Anthony Davis: The Ghost of New Orleans Past
It's funny. Anthony Davis isn't even on the Lakers anymore—he’s moved on to the Mavericks—but his shadow still looms over every Lakers vs Pelicans game.
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The trade that sent him to LA back in 2019 is the gift that keeps on giving (and taking). The Pelicans built a huge part of their current identity on the assets they got back, but the Lakers got the 2020 ring. In 2026, the rivalry has morphed. It's less about "who won the trade" and more about the Pelicans trying to prove they aren't just a farm system for big-market bullies.
Why the Lakers Keep Winning This Matchup
The Lakers are currently sitting at 23-11, while the Pelicans are struggling near the bottom of the West at 8-30. That is a massive gulf.
The Lakers' secret sauce isn't just the stars; it's the shooting. They are 2nd in the league in Field Goal Percentage at 50.1%. When you have LeBron and Luka drawing three defenders every time they drive, guys like Saddiq Bey (who joined the Lakers in a quiet but effective move) and Rui Hachimura get looks so open they could probably check their phones before shooting.
New Orleans, on the other hand, is giving up 123.1 points per game. You cannot give up 120+ points in the modern NBA and expect to do anything other than scout the lottery.
What to Watch for Next
If these teams meet again soon, the script depends entirely on the injury report.
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- Lakers Health: Keep an eye on Austin Reaves’ calf strain. He’s been out since Christmas, and the Lakers need his secondary playmaking to give LeBron a breather.
- Pelicans Reinforcements: They desperately need Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado back. Without their point-of-attack defense, the Pelicans are basically a layup line for elite guards.
- The Trade Deadline: Expect New Orleans to be active. There are rumors flying about Trey Murphy and Herb Jones being "too expensive" to trade, but when you're 8-30, everything has a price.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're betting on or just analyzing this matchup, stop looking at the historical "head-to-head" and start looking at the fourth-quarter point differential.
The Lakers are one of the best closing teams in the league because they have two of the highest-IQ players in history. The Pelicans are currently one of the worst because their young core panics when the whistles get tighter.
For New Orleans to actually flip the script, they don't need Zion to score 40. They need a defensive identity that lasts 48 minutes instead of 36. Until that happens, the Lakers will keep treating the Smoothie King Center like their home away from home.
To stay ahead, watch the injury reports 30 minutes before tip-off. In 2026, a "questionable" tag for a guy like Herb Jones is the difference between a 5-point Lakers win and a 20-point blowout.