Overview
- Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center, with coverage on Spectrum SportsNet, Gulf Coast Sports Network and NBA League Pass.
- The game counts toward the NBA Cup group stage, where point differential is a tiebreaker and the Lakers enter undefeated atop West Group B.
- Los Angeles seeks a response after a blowout loss to the Thunder that left the team 8–4 on the season during a five-game road trip.
- LeBron James (sciatica) and Gabe Vincent are out for the Lakers, and rookie Adou Thiero was upgraded to probable for a possible debut.
- New Orleans is 2–9 and will be without Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole and Dejounte Murray, placing greater responsibility on Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears and rookie Derik Queen.