Austin Reaves stepped up with 20 points for the Lakers, supported by D’Angelo Russell’s 19 points and Rui Hachimura‘s 11 points. On the Pelicans’ side, CJ McCollum led the scoring with 25 points, followed by Herbert Jones with 18 points. Brandon Ingram, returning from a 12-game absence due to a hyper-extended knee, contributed 13 points, along with Larry Nance Jr.
Despite New Orleans’ efforts, the Lakers took control early and never trailed in the game. They built a commanding lead of as many as 23 points in the first half and dominated in points in the paint, outscoring the Pelicans 68-42 for the game. The Lakers sealed the season series victory 3-1, with this win marking the first time the visiting team emerged victorious.
In the third quarter, Reaves and Russell fueled the Lakers’ offense with timely three-pointers, helping them extend their lead to 85-57. While New Orleans attempted to mount a comeback, the Lakers maintained their dominance, ultimately securing the win and the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.
Davis showcased his scoring prowess early in the game, notching eight of his 14 first-quarter points as the Lakers established a 17-7 lead. Despite a late surge from Ingram, the Pelicans found themselves trailing 30-24 at the end of the period.
The Lakers continued to build on their lead in the second quarter, with contributions from Taurean Prince and James extending their advantage to 15 points. Although New Orleans managed to trim the deficit, the Lakers’ balanced scoring and strong defense kept them comfortably ahead, leading 70-53 at halftime.
Despite a late push from the Pelicans, the Lakers’ early dominance proved decisive, securing them the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and setting the stage for an exciting play-in game rematch against the Pelicans.
(Inputs from Reuters)
