Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram led the New Orleans Pelicans to a decisive 129-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday’s NBA action, scoring 26 points each. The Lakers, still fatigued from their close loss to Minnesota the previous night, couldn’t match the Pelicans’ energy, who were well-rested following their win against Utah.
“It definitely brought us together more as a team,” Williamson said. “I feel like we’ve been playing great since then. We’ve still got some things to figure out, but so does every other team.”
LeBron James put up an impressive 34 points, and Anthony Davis contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers. However, their efforts were insufficient, as the team suffered its seventh loss in nine games.
“We have to figure it out and get better, for sure,” James said. “We’re not one team that likes to play from behind. We’ve been in that position a lot this year.
“The flight last night did not help, obviously,” James explained. “We didn’t get to the hotel last until 3:45 (a.m.). So, it was a rough day trying to recalibrate and get ready for the game. But I’m happy I was able to go out and just try to make some plays happen for my team.”
CJ McCollum’s 22 points bolstered the Pelicans, who maintained a 19-point lead and thwarted every Lakers comeback attempt. The Pelicans were impressive from beyond the arc, hitting 50% of their three-pointers (17-34), and were energized by Jose “Grand Theft” Alvarado’s defensive prowess, resulting in four steals and two blocks.
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This game was a rematch following the Lakers’ dominant win over the Pelicans in the In-Season Tournament semifinal in Las Vegas on December 7. The Pelicans, playing in front of a lively New Year’s Eve crowd, seemed driven by the desire for redemption.
“The way we lost the game, you want to redeem yourself,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “We talked about it the last coupe days and watched some film on it — as hard as it was.”
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The Pelicans’ star trio of Williamson, Ingram, and McCollum, scoring over 20 points in the same game, marked the fourth occurrence this season with the team undefeated in these matchups. Larry Nance Jr., returning from a rib injury, contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Herb Jones and Jonas Valanciunas each added 13 points.
“Not only are they scoring, but they’re sharing the ball with each other and their teammates,” Green said. “That’s the trust factor we have to have.”
Due to injuries, the Lakers were without Cam Reddish and D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura left the game with a calf strain. The Pelicans were missing Trey Murphy III, yet they still excelled in three-point shooting, with McCollum leading with six three-pointers.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Pelicans’ defense, particularly Alvarado, shined by stealing from James and Davis. Despite James scoring 21 points in the first half, the Lakers lacked adequate support. New Orleans led 74-57 at halftime, powered by a strong 3-point shooting performance in the first two quarters.
“LeBron, that’s one of the greatest players to ever play this game and for me to be on the court, for me to get steals, for me to do anything, that’s pretty amazing,” Alverado said. “When I get back to watch videos when I grow old, and they say that (James) is the best player to play this game, at least I got a video of him (with me) getting a steal.”
Looking ahead, the Lakers will host Miami, starting a five-game homestand, while the Pelicans will conclude their homestand against Brooklyn.
