The Los Angeles Lakers take on the New Orleans Pelicans looking to score their third road win of the season. Check out our live recap:
1st Quarter
The usual Lakers starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Nick Young, Luol Deng, Julius Randle, and Timofey Mozgov started the game off for L.A. The Pelicans rolled out Tim Frazier, E’Twaun Moore, Dante Cunningham, Anthony Davis, and Omer Asik.
After missing his first attempt, Anthony Davis began his night by hitting a nice step-back jumper from the free-throw line against Mozgov. A Randle jumper and a three-pointer by Young gave the Lakers an early 5-4 lead. An ensuing lay-up by Asik and a Moore three-pointer put the Pelicans up two which was followed by Russell scoring his basket of the game on nice-looking fadeaway. Mozgov got in on the action scoring his first attempt off a nice pass from Russell.
Young hit his second three-pointer of the game on an assist from Russell that brought the Lakers within one-point. The Pelicans extended their lead to six on a corner three-pointer from Cunningham.
The Los Angeles bench came in with a little less than four minutes remaining in the quarter and did what they do best: score points and bring energy. Tarik Black made his presence known immediately by scoring a bucket as the shot-clock was winding down and came up with a nice block on the other end of the floor. Brandon Ingram continued his smart play as he scored on a drive against Davis. A 13-2 run by the Lakers, highlighted by seven quick points from Jordan Clarkson, gave the Lakers a 27-22 lead as the quarter closed.
At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers lead, 30-26.
2nd Quarter
The Pelicans scored the first four points of the quarter on a basket by Alexis Ajinca and a pair of free-throws by Archie Goodwin. After a jump ball that went Los Angeles’ way, Lou Williams got hot and hit a couple of shots to give the Lakers a 43-38 lead.
Another three-pointer by Young (his third of the game) extended the Lakers lead to eight points, their largest of the game. Following a timeout, Davis was able to score on a pair of baskets and two free throws, which put him up to 16 points and to tied the game at 46-46, forcing Lakers coach Luke Walton to call a timeout.
Ingram scored his second basket on a spin-around jumper that put the Lakers ahead. Davis continued his all-star play by hitting a running floater over a smaller defender in Williams. Williams’ strong quarter continued on an and-one that put his point total to 14 points on the night.
Thomas Robinson, who has been sparingly used this season, scored on a put-back dunk following a miss to continue the bench’s strong play. A Buddy Hield three-pointer to end the quarter gave the Pelicans a 56-55 lead entering halftime.
3rd Quarter
Russell got the quarter started by hitting two consecutive three-pointers that gave the Lakers back the lead. Davis showed his defensive prowess by blocking a Randle shot as the shot-clock expired that was followed by a nice double-clutch lay-up also by Davis, which he appeared to tweak his back as he fell straight to the floor after the make.
Mozgov was able to stretch the defense by hitting a mid-range jumper over Asik. A nice pass from Randle to Russell gave the Lakers a 67-62 lead mid-way through the quarter. Sloppy play from the Pelicans led to a few easy baskets by the Lakers that forced head coach Alvin Gentry to call a timeout.
Young continued his scoring onslaught by draining his fourth and fifth three-pointers of the night that extended the Los Angeles lead to 13 points, the largest of the game. Since Davis went to the locker room for the Pelicans, the Lakers went on a 14-0 scoring run to bust the game wide-open.
The Pelicans then went on a scoring run of their own that was started by a Terrance Jones lay-up, followed by a Hield jumper and a Langston Galloway three-pointer to force a Lakers timeout with a little over two minutes remaining in the quarter.
Williams ended the quarter with a jumper to up the Lakers lead back up to 13 points, giving the Lakers a 84-71 advantage.
4th Quarter
Larry Nance Jr. got the quarter going by getting a steal and throwing down a dunk at the other end of the floor. Nice passing from the Lakers gave Clarkson an easy three from the corner that gave them a 15-point lead.
A very nice spin move and lay-up by Hield brought the Pelicans back to within 12 points but Williams responded with another Laker three-pointer (their 11th of the night). Davis continued his strong offensive performance by dribbling around Nance Jr. and finishing with a lay-up.
Nance Jr. then delivered a nice pass to Tarik Black, who continues to bring consistent energy off the bench, which led to a slam-dunk. Clarkson continued his strong play by hitting his fourth three-pointer, which put him to 21 points for the night.
The Lakers extended their largest lead of the game, 22 points, on a make by Russell. The Lakers as a team shot over 50 percent from the field, including 13 three-pointers. Clarkson and Williams continued to be catalysts off the bench, scoring a combined 44 points. Randle nearly registered a triple-double with eight points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
The Lakers beat the Pelicans, 126-97.
