FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Pelicans - Game 69

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Pelicans – Game 69

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (34-35) | New Orleans Pelicans (33-36)

 

The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 123-108

The Lakers vs Pelicans took place in New Orleans on Tuesday night. 

The Los Angeles Lakers led by as many as 40 points in their win over the New Orleans Pelicans and improved to 34-35. They’re now tied with the Dallas Mavericks for No. 8 in the Western Conference (Los Angeles is No. 9 due to a tiebreaker). 

Anthony Davis dominated in this one, totaling 35 points (11-for-18 FGs, 12-for-13 FTs) and 17 rebounds. Davis took responsibility for Los Angeles’ loss on Sunday at home, challenging himself to play better on offense.

“Last game, everyone did their job except myself, and that was on me,” Davis said. “I wanted to come out and make sure that I got back to myself, got back to a rhythm.”

Malik Beasley put his shooting slump behind him and caught fire, scoring 21 points and seven 3s (one shy of the team record in a half where Kobe Bryant made eight triples in 2003) of his 24 points (8-for-16 FGs, 7-for-12 3s) in the first half, along with three assists, and two steals. 

“I felt confident tonight,” Beasley said. “I just told myself to keep doing what I’m doing, don’t worry about the pressure of making shots.” 

No Laker team had hit more than 14 3’s in a half before this one, as Los Angeles set a new franchise record with 15. They also set a new season high for points in a half (75). 

It was time for Lakers vs Pelicans.

“I think we just came with that energy,” D’Angelo Russell said. “We’ve been wanting Beaz to get hot like that for a while.”

The Lakers vs Pelicans start of the first half.

Russell finished with 17 points (5-for-15 FGs, 3-for-9 3s, 4-for-4 FTs), five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Rui Hachimura contributed 12 points (4-for-7 FGs, 2-for-3 3s), and Austin Reaves produced 14 points (4-for-5 FGs, 3-for-4 3s, 3-for-5 FTs), four rebounds, and five assists. 

“You really just have to take it one game at a time,” Reaves said. “We approach every game to win, and whatever happens on the back end happens.”

To the surprise of no one, Brandon Ingram returned to play against the Lakers. Ingram, in his return, finished with 22 points (9-for-17 FGs, 1-for-5 3s, 3-for-4 FTs), six rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

Herbert Jones had 20 points (7-for-16 FGs, 2-for-8 3s, 4-for-6 FTs), seven rebounds, and two steals. Trey Murphy III also had 20 points (7-for-14 FGs, 4-for-7 3s), three rebounds, and three steals. CJ McCollum had a rough outing, totaling 13 points (5-for-17 FGs, 1-for-10 3s), three rebounds, and nine assists.

The Lakers couldn’t have started any better, as they led 14-0 after Davis scored the first eight points. All the while, the Pelicans were 0-for-6 from the field. Davis scored 12 points within the first five minutes of the game.

The Lakers vs Pelicans end of the first half.

Davis and Beasley combined for 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting within the first nine minutes. The Lakers then had their best 3-point shooting quarter of the season, hitting nine triples, including three apiece by Russell and Beasley.

The Lakers vs Pelicans start of the second half.

After scoring just 25 points over the last two games, Davis dropped 14 in the first. The Lakers were scorching hot from deep, making nine of their 14 3-point attempts (64.3%). Reaves had four assists in his opening stint of eight minutes off the bench, plus four points and three boards.

Hachimura added to the 3-point barrage with a pair of makes. He came in shooting 4-for-8 from 3 in his last three games and was 19-for-29 overall in that stretch (65.5%). However, the Lakers’ 40-point lead was cut to 29 with 3:26 to play in the third quarter. They dropped off from an energy standpoint, especially late in the period, as the Pelicans chipped away to make it 98-75 with 12 minutes to play.

However, Darvin Ham said Davis wouldn’t play against the Houston Rockets. That’s still the plan with the medical staff to hold him out of back-to-backs that were put in place before his return to play from the stress reaction in his foot. With Davis out, expect the Lakers to play small with Wenyen Gabriel as their only big, even if he is undersized.

The Lakers vs Pelicans was 123-108, Los Angeles.

The Lakers now take on the Houston Rockets Wednesday, March 15th, at 5:00 p.m. PT. The game is on AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBA League Pass, and Spectrum SportsNet.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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