How to watch the Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA play-in tournament game

Ben Leibowitz, Akron Beacon Journal

Akron native LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will face off against Canton native CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA’s play-in tournament.

The Pelicans (49-33) sit as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference standings and will play host to the Lakers (47-35) who finished as the No. 8 seed in the conference.

Tune in:Watch the Lakers vs. Pelicans game with Fubo (free trial)

The winner of the matchup will advanced to the full NBA postseason for a Round 1 matchup against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, who finished the season as the No. 2 seed in the West.

The loser will have an additional chance to punch their proper playoff ticket when they face the winner of the No. 9-10 seed game between the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.

Here’s how fans can tune in as the first stage of NBA postseason play gets underway.

What channel is the Lakers vs. Pelicans game on? How to watch, stream the NBA play-in tournament

Feb 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) and guard Dyson Daniels (11) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) and guard Dyson Daniels (11) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers and Pelicans will play at 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, April 16, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The game will be broadcast on TNT.

Fans can also stream the matchup via the Max (HBO) app with a subscription login. You can also watch it on Fubo TV.

Who are the broadcasters for the Lakers vs. Pelicans play-in tournament game?

Dave Pasch will be the play-by-play voice for the game, with Richard Jefferson (color analyst) and Angel Gray (sideline reporter) also on the call.

What was the regular season record between the Lakers and Pelicans?

Feb 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers won the regular-season matchup against the Pelicans 3-1, including the regular-season finale on April 14 on the road against New Orleans, 124-108.

Can James and the Lakers carry over that success and beat the Pelicans again to advance?

Players on the Lakers and Pelicans have Ohio ties

Pelicans' Zion Williamson (1) and Larry Nance Jr. (22) shake hands after defeating the Grizzlies 111-104 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.
Pelicans' Zion Williamson (1) and Larry Nance Jr. (22) shake hands after defeating the Grizzlies 111-104 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

Of course fans will know that James is an Akron, Ohio, native. His teammate D'Angelo Russell is a former Ohio State Buckeye.

On the other side for New Orleans, McCollum is a native of Canton, Ohio, while teammate Larry Nance Jr. — son of Cleveland Cavaliers legend Larry Nance Sr. — like James, was born in Akron.

The Pelicans also have bench depth with Ohio ties in the form of E.J. Liddell (Ohio State) and Jalen Crutcher (Dayton).

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How to watch Lakers vs Pelicans in NBA play-in tournament game

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