The Los Angeles Lakers got the win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night, led by Luka Doncic with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. It’s their third win in a row, moving them within 0.5 games of the Denver Nuggets for fifth in the Western Conference. But it was nearly a disastrous loss to one of the league’s worst teams.
The Lakers trailed 94-86 after a Zion Williamson and-1 with 7:20 to go in the fourth quarter. But over the next three minutes, the Lakers stormed back, piecing together a 12-0 run that gave them the lead. They wouldn’t give the lead back from there, going on to win 110-101.
It wasn’t the best game from the Lakers in any phase, but it was a strong finish. Luka, in particular, was happy to see them fight to the end and pick up an ugly win. He explained what went right for L.A. in the fourth quarter to make that kind of run.
“Just our purpose,” Doncic said of what he liked in the win. “I think obviously they went on a run, but there was a lot of time left. So we were saying that there was a lot of time left and our purpose to go on a 12-0 run was great.”
Doncic viewed the way the Lakers won today as a sign that they are perhaps rounding into form as a good team.
“Very big. I think we responded in a big way. Sometimes you gotta win playing bad, that’s what good teams do. And I think that’s what we did today. Obviously it wasn’t our best game, but we managed to get the win out of it,” he said.
Getting this win ahead of a tough stretch of schedule was important, as nine of their next 11 games are against teams above .500.
“Could be perfect timing, or not. You just gotta approach those games with the same mentality,” Doncic said. “Obviously all of those teams have great players, they’re winning games, so we need to go game by game, first of all. And then just try to win all those games.”
The Lakers have looked sharp heading into a tough stretch before, only to get partially exposed by some of the league’s better teams. Hopefully, the ability to win ugly and the better defense they’ve been playing of late has them better prepared to face other top teams without immediate issues.
JJ Redick downplays exchange with Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic and Lakers head coach JJ Redick were seen having words on the bench in their recent win against the Golden State Warriors and the moment went viral on social media.
Redick downplayed the exchange with Doncic and emphasized the two have a great relationship.
“I didn’t think much of it at the time, to be honest with you. I don’t think Luka did either,” Redick said before Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. “He and I have a great relationship, I really value our relationship. And I think those things happen, not every game, but they happen very frequently and sometimes you have to rehash them with a player or as a teammate sometimes it happens player to player.”
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