The Los Angeles Lakers closed with a dominant fourth-quarter surge to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 110-101 on Tuesday night at crypto.com Arena, extending their winning streak to three games.
Luka Doncic led the way with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while LeBron James added 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Los Angeles improved to 37-24 and remains sixth in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers overcame 21 turnovers and an eight-point deficit with just over seven minutes remaining. They responded with 14 straight points and finished the game on a 24-7 run.
Doncic shot 10-for-22 from the field and hit three 3-pointers, including a key shot in the final two minutes. The All-Star guard also picked up his 14th technical foul of the season in the second quarter and now sits two away from an automatic suspension.
James went 8-for-12 from the floor and moved within two field goals of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA career record of 15,837 made baskets.
Austin Reaves overcame a slow start to finish with 15 points and eight rebounds. After missing his first eight shots, he sparked the rally with a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5:04 left that gave Los Angeles a 96-94 lead.
Marcus Smart delivered a complete performance with 10 points, seven assists, four steals and three blocks. He and Dončić connected from deep in the closing minutes to seal the comeback.
Deandre Ayton contributed 13 points and eight rebounds, helping the Lakers win the rebounding battle 48-41. The home team also recorded 12 blocks and 11 offensive rebounds.
New Orleans, now 19-44 and 13th in the West, received 24 points from Zion Williamson in his return from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. Trey Murphy III scored 21 points, and Saddiq Bey added 18.
The Pelicans led 94-86 with just over seven minutes remaining before going scoreless for more than four minutes. They shot 42% overall and 8-for-29 from 3-point range.
Los Angeles shot 47% from the field and 11-for-37 from deep. Despite the turnovers, the Lakers capitalized on stops during the decisive stretch and limited second-chance opportunities late.
The victory continues a strong homestand for the Lakers as they prepare for a road matchup in Denver on Thursday. The Pelicans travel to Sacramento the same night to continue their six-game West Coast trip.
