Getty LeBron James, Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers (10-3) return home to Staples Center after a three-game road trip to take on a slumping New Orleans Pelicans squad on Friday.
The game starts at 10 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN. But if you don’t have cable, here’s how to watch a live stream of Pelicans vs Lakers online for free:
Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV, which you can try for free with a seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the Pelicans vs Lakers live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
You can also watch the game live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a TV provider to watch this way, but you can use your FuboTV credentials to do that.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV also comes with cloud DVR space.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 30-plus other TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Orange” bundle. It’s the cheapest streaming service with ESPN, plus you can get $10 off for the first month, and get Showtime, Starz, and Epix included for free:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the Pelicans vs Lakers live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
You can also watch the game live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a TV provider to watch this way, but you can use your Sling credentials to do that.
If you can’t watch live, Sling TV comes included with 10 hours of cloud DVR.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which you can try out for free with a seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the Pelicans vs Lakers live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
You can also watch the game live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a TV provider to watch this way, but you can use your Hulu credentials to do that.
If you can’t watch live, Hulu with Live TV also comes with 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of DVR space and the ability to fast forward through commercials).
Vidgo
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 65+ other TV channels on Vidgo, which you can use for free with a seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Vidgo, you can watch the Pelicans vs Lakers live on the Vidgo app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Vidgo website.
You can also watch the game live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a TV provider to watch this way, but you can use your Vidgo credentials to do that.
Pelicans vs Lakers Preview
There’s been no championship hangover for the Lakers, who have raced out to an NBA-best 10-3 record to start the season. The last three for LA haven’t been competitive for four quarters, with the Lakers coasting to a trio of consecutive road wins by an average margin of more than 20 points.
LeBron James has led the way for the Lakers, averaging 24.3 points per game and 7.5 assists. His superstar teammate Anthony Davis has been close behind, notching 22 points, 1.7 blocks and 8.5 rebounds per game.
“It’s all about execution and your level of focus,” James said after thumping Oklahoma City 128-99 last time out. “You’ve got to be able to at times build up your own energy. Like tonight, we come off a back-to-back, three in four nights. For us to come off a back-to-back — in Houston last night, getting in late to OKC and coming out to an arena with no fans — you’ve got to prosper your own energy from your group, yourself.”
The Lakers also have four other players — Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — averaging double-digit points per game.
“We’re trying to play extra pass basketball, but also recognize the shot that comes in the rhythm of the offense and make sure we’re not overpassing. Which we do on occasion, but to me that’s okay,” Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said. “I’d rather overpass then not pass enough.”
The Pelicans kept their last game close despite missing starters Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe. Ball and Bledsoe are day-to-day with injuries, while Williamson — the No. 1 overall pick a year ago — had an inconclusive COVID-19 test. Williamson is expected to be in the lineup against the Lakers.
“There is nothing we can do about any of this,” Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said. “Guys are going to be out whether the tests are conclusive or not. When you have a game on the schedule, you show up and play it unless the league does what they did Monday and tells you not to. It’s really got to be that simple. You can’t plan ahead too much. You can’t think you know what’s going on. Just get up every day and start with a plan and get ready to adapt when stuff comes.”
The Pelicans started the year 4-2, but enter the matchup with the Lakers with a 4-6 record after four consecutive losses.
INJURIES
Lakers: Wesley Matthews: out (achilles), Jared Dudley: out (calf).
Pelicans: Eric Bledsoe: out (eye), Zion Williamson: out (health and safety protocols), Lonzo Ball: out (knee).