The Pelicans sit at last place in the Western Conference and the Lakers have lost two of its last three

The Lakers can get back in the win column on Friday.

After losing two out of its last three – despite starting the season 7-2 – the Los Angeles Lakers will face the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the Lakers’ fourth game of their five-game road trip.

The Lake Show is coming off a 29-point defeat to the reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Pelicans are 2-9 on the season and sit in last place in the Western Conference. The New Orleans squad started the season on a six-game losing streak, before winning back-to-back contests, but has since lost three in a row, riding into the affair against the Lakers.

After a series of injuries, the Lakers are almost back to full strength. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are back in the lineup, but Gabe Vincent, Adou Thiero, and LeBron James remain sidelined due to injury.

James has yet to play a game this season as sciatica on the right side has kept him from game action, but his return is on the horizon.

But the Lakers are no the only team without one of its star players. The Pelicans are without three of their top players for Friday’s contest, including two of their top three scorers. Forward – and former No. 1 overall pick –  Zion Williamson is out with a hamstring injury but leads the Pelicans in scoring and assists and ties for the team lead in rebounds.

Williamson has only played five games this season but is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.

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Guard Jordan Poole, the team’s third leading scorer, is out with a left quadriceps strain, but was averaging 17.3 points and 3.4 assists per game on a 38.6% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

The last Pelican to miss the Lakers contest is guard Dejounte Murray, who has missed the entirety of the season with an Achilles injury and will not return until at least after New Years.

With the absence of Murray, Williamson, and Poole, forward Trey Murphy III has taken over the bulk of the scoring.

The 2021 First Round pick is averaging 18.1 points and 3.7 assists per game while also tying Williamson for the team lead in rebounds.

Murphy leads a tandem of rookies on the Pelicans’ hardwood. 2025 First Round pick duo guard Jeremiah Fears and center Derik Queen. 

Fears has solidified his starting spot in the backcourt and has averaged 14 points per game on a 37% shooting split from beyond the arc. However, Fears has struggled with his overall shooting efficiency, maintaining just a 39.2% field goal percentage. 

Similarly, Queen has been a solid replacement with Williamson out with injury, joining center Kevon Looney in the frontcourt. Queen is averaging 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest despite playing just 21.5 minutes per game.

The former Maryland star has shown the ability to dominate in the interior with his length, touch and footwork around the rim, and diverse offensive skillset to boast a 52.5% field goal percentage.

Guard Saddiq Bey has stepped in to fill the holes in the Pelicans’ roster with all of the team’s injuries.

Bey – despite being listed as a guard – stands at 6-foot-8 and has been able to play guard, wing, or stretch four in the Pelicans rotation and has started since the departure of Williamson.

Bey is averaging 12.6 points per game on a 40.4% 3-point percentage and has also attacked the boards, grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game.

With all of the injuries on the Pelicans roster, its depth will need to step up against the Lakers in its home game, where tip-off will commence at 5 p.m.