The Lakers and Pelicans renew their budding rivalry in an 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament game on Tuesday.
The winner earns the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
The loser hosts another play-in game against the winner of ninth-seeded Kings and 10th-seeded Warriors.
Los Angeles advanced to the playoffs with 124-108 win over the Pelicans in the regular-season finale. LeBron James finished his 21st NBA regular season with a triple-double — 28 points, 17 assists, and 11 rebounds.
With the victory, the Lakers locked itself into the eighth seed and knocked New Orleans out of the West's top six.
Sling:
Lakers All-Star forward Anthony Davis had 30 points and 11 rebounds against the Pelicans, who made him the first overall NBA draft choice in 2012. However, Davis had to exit the game with hip and back spasms, but he expressed confidence that he will be able to available Tuesday.
The Lakers emerged victorious in the Play-In Tournaments 7-vs-8 game in 2021 and 2023.
Los Angeles also beat New Orleans 133-89 in the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinal in Las Vegas in December.
The key for the Pelicans could be the performance of Zion Williamson, who was plagued by injuries through his first four NBA seasons.
Williamson's postseason debut will come in the Play-In Tournament game against the Lakers. This past season, Williamson averaged 22.9 points and 5.8 rebounds over a career-high 70 games.
The Pelicans made the playoffs as a 9 seed in 2022 before coming up short as a 9 seed last year.
What channel is Lakers vs. Pelicans on today?
- TV channel: TNT (U.S.) | TSN (Canada)
- Live streaming: Sling
The Lakers vs. Pelicans game will air on TNT. The game can also be streamed on Sling.
Viewers can also live stream Play-In Tournament games with Sling.
Sling is the home for avid sports fans offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
If a game is not available to watch live in your location, or if you're traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs provide a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device in the world.
Lakers vs. Pelicans start time
- Date: Tuesday, April 16
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 6:30 p.m. CT | 4:30 p.m. PT
The Lakers vs. Pelicans will tip off around 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 16. The game will be played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
The NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 16, and run through Friday, 19. The games will be carried by ESPN and TNT. The playoffs will begin on April 20, with games airing on ABC, ESPN, NBA TV and TNT.
Those hoping to live stream Play-In and playoff games can also find the contests on Sling TV.
Here's the full Play-In Tournament schedule:
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| April 16 | Lakers at Pelicans | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Warriors at Kings | 10 p.m. | TNT | |
| April 17 | Heat at 76ers | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Hawks at Bulls | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN | |
| April 19 | TBD | TBD | ESPN |
| TBD | TBD | TNT |
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