The Lakers handled business against the Pelicans with a 118-104 win on Friday night. They are now 2-0 in NBA Cup play.
Luka Dončić ended with 24 points, seven rebounds, 12 assists, and two steals. Austin
Reaves had 31 points with seven assists. Deandre Ayton pitched in with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Marcus Smart scored 13 points with five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Rui Hachimura had 14 points and four rebounds. Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht combined for 11 points off the bench.
It was a messy start on both sides, as each team committed two early turnovers. Smart scored a quick five points for LA. Rookie Jeremiah Fears was cooking for the Pelicans with five points. At the 6:14 mark, the Lakers were up by five.
All five starters scored points as Los Angeles went on a 13-0 scoring run. Ayton and Reaves both had six points, and Smart had seven.
The run ended at 15 unanswered when Trey Murphy III scored four points straight for New Orleans. LA was up double digits as New Orleans tried to mount a comeback off two turnovers by the Lakers. Luka missed all three of his attempts from the field. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by 10.
New Orleans jumped to a quick start in the second quarter, going on a 12-2 scoring run. LA countered, scoring five points and pushing their lead back up to seven.
Luka drained a 3-pointer, which was the first shot he made in the half. He also had seven of LA’s 12 assists. LaRavia was having a nice game off the bench with six points.
Ayton was working the boards with eight rebounds alongside his 10 points. Los Angeles managed to extend their lead back to double digits. Murphy surged with four quick points, but it didn’t matter as the Lakers were up by 13.
Both teams started strong offensively in the third quarter. LA was shooting 58% from the field, and the Pelicans were shooting 51%. Smart entered double figures with 11 points. Herbert Jones was up to 13 points for New Orleans.
Hachimura was having a slow offensive game, but he started knocking down his shots in this quarter.
The Lakers opened up a big lead as they tightened up their defense, which led to an onslaught of offense. They continued to keep all the momentum, although the Pelicans scored a few points as the third was winding down. Los Angeles was up by 18 going into the fourth.
LA, allowing New Orleans to score as the third period was finishing, gave them confidence as they extended their scoring run to 12-0 to start the final frame. What had once been a 22-point lead was now down to 10 with plenty of time left in the game.
Reaves started to shoulder the offensive load, scoring five more points, helping extend the lead back to double digits for the Lakers. After a 3-pointer from Hachimura, the Pelicans drained two 3-pointers in a row.
Both teams started to play sloppily. LA was allowing New Orleans many opportunities to score. Murphy converted on a layup, and Derik Queen converted on a free throw to make it a nine-point game.
Los Angeles survived the fourth-quarter rally on the shoulders of Reaves and Luka, who both scored at the end to keep the lead.
Key Takeaways:
LA stays too comfortable with big leads, and it leads to unnecessary dramatic fourth quarters. Don’t take your foot off the gas pedal and always keep the defensive pressure.
Los Angeles needs much more from their bench. The starters couldn’t get any rest on Friday because the reserves couldn’t take care of business.
The Lakers’ next matchup is Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks at 5:00 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
