Lakers vs. Pelicans: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

The Los Angeles Lakers (31-43) play against the New Orleans Pelicans (43-43) at Smoothie King Center

Game Time: 7:00 PM EDT on Sunday March 27, 2022

Los Angeles Lakers 108, New Orleans Pelicans 116 (Final)

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel said the Lakers are looking ahead to their Tuesday game in Dallas, but acknowledges of this loss to New Orleans: “It’s not good. It hurts. … Time’s running out on us. We came out with the proper urgency for this game, but weren’t able to close it.” – 9:38 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Green on @treymurphy
“He’s been preparing for these moments” pic.twitter.com/j2ITW6Fz6n – 9:38 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel on loss to Pelicans: “This game hurts. It was a big game. … Time is running out on us.” – 9:38 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Final Stats 📊
@Brandon Ingram 26 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast
@treymurphy 🔥 21 pts, 4 reb, 4/7 from deep
@Jonas Valanciunas 19 pts, 12 reb, 3 ast
@CJ McCollum 18 pts, 6 ast, 4 reb
@Herb Jones 16 pts, 6 stl
@FanDuel pic.twitter.com/Oe079Bckp9 – 9:38 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Jose Alvarado is back by the stands, in full uniform, taking pictures and signing autographs. pic.twitter.com/yfSSdb2bCU – 9:37 PM New Orleans Pelicans PR @PelicansPR
Postgame Interviews (3/27 vs LAL):
Willie Green
Brandon Ingram
Herbert Jones
CJ McCollum
Trey Murphy III – 9:36 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Watch Live: Willie Green
#Pelicans | @Verizon
twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 9:35 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
The Lakers shot 1-7 on uncontested 3s in the second half after going 9-10 on them in the first half. – 9:35 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
W. pic.twitter.com/kixNL6pUVv – 9:35 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
So many sad Lakers fans walking out of the SKC – 9:33 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
So @FiveThirtyEight now projects the Pels to finish 3 games ahead of the Lakers in 9th place…and the Spurs a game ahead of the Lakers for 10th place. Meanwhile, recent unexpected wins by Wiz and Knicks have Lakers pick projected for 8th, and staying with Pels. – 9:30 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
#Pelicans rally for memorable comeback win, beating Lakers 116-108 after falling behind by 23 pts in first half. Rookie Trey Murphy 21 pts for New Orleans, including 16 in pivotal third quarter. Pels regain ninth in West. @PanzuraNews postgame wrap: https://t.co/azwc0GUYTW pic.twitter.com/fZkqdvgupu – 9:30 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Tonight’s game was the perfect example of what this Lakers team could be (first half) and what the team truly is (second half). – 9:30 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
That dude nice… pic.twitter.com/sAjwsx2P3G – 9:29 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Lakers had a 23-point lead and lost tonight in New Orleans.
In other words, NOLA said No-LA. – 9:28 PM Janis Carr @janiscarr
Raise your hand if you think the Lakers belong in the playoffs? #blown23pointlead – 9:26 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
So Joel Meyers really said “You know what they say, AD, that’s all folks!” on the broadcast? Pure fire by the G.O.A.T. 🐐🐐 – 9:26 PM StatMuse @statmuse
The Pelicans:
— Came back from down 23 tonight
— Now 9th in the West
— Own tiebreakers vs Lakers
That’s all folks. pic.twitter.com/KAEFdvvuBU – 9:26 PM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
The 31-43 Lakers now lead the 30-44 Spurs by just one game for No. 10 in the Western Conference.
They split their season series 2-2. The next relevant tiebreaker would be conference record. The 20-24 Spurs have all but clinched that over the 16-28 Lakers. – 9:26 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
FINAL: Pels 116, Lakers 108
– Lakers scored 14p in 4Q
– Pels outscored LAL 67-39 in 2H
– BI: 26p, 7r, 5a
– JV: 19p, 12r
– CJ: 18p, 6a, 4r
– Trey: 21p, 4/7 3P
– Herb: 16p, 6s
Pels: 48.4 FG%, 9/27 3P, 19/24 FT
Lakers: 52.5 FG%, 14/35 3P, 10/16 FT – 9:25 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Coming back from 23 down to win feels right 🙌
@HancockWhitney | #WBD pic.twitter.com/KcLul2A3lU – 9:24 PM Chris Herring @Herring_NBA
Pels beat the Lakers to move into ninth place, dropping LAL to 10th. Lakers leading the Spurs by just one game at this point—with 8 games to play—for West’s last play-in spot. – 9:24 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers now half game behind Pelicans for 9th seed and New Orleans has won both games, own tiebreaker. Also, Lakers just one game above Spurs for 10th seed for play-in game. – 9:24 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
With a 116-108 loss in which LAL relinquished a 20-point halftime lead, the Lakers lose the season series to New Orleans regardless of next week’s result. Tiebreaker goes to Pelicans, should it matter. – 9:23 PM StatMuse @statmuse
Trey Murphy vs Lakers:
21 PTS (all in 3Q)
7-12 FG
4-7 3P
+20 +/-
W
He scored all of the Pelicans bench points in the 2nd half. – 9:23 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
LeBron can’t miss even the play-in . . . can he? – 9:23 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Final: Pels 116, Lakers 108
Ingram 26 pts, 7 rebs & 5 assts
Murphy 21 pts (all in 2nd half)
Valanciunas 19 pts & 12 rebs
Pels come back from 23-point deficit to pull off the biggest win of the year. Huge performances from Trey and BI put this one away. Pels up half-game on LAL – 9:23 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Brandon Ingram had *struggled* in games coming back from injury.
Tonight?
26 points
7 rebounds
5 assists
10/17 FG
6/7 FT
In 26 minutes. – 9:23 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Incredible 116-108 comeback over the Lakers!! The Pelicans trailed by 20 points at halftime & LeBron James was rolling. However, New Orleans wallops L.A. 67-39 in the second half. So many players excelled, but Trey Murphy’s my player of the game with 21 points — all in 2nd half. – 9:23 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Jose Alvarado has not stopped dancing since the buzzer sounded. – 9:22 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Monster comeback for the Pelicans in a huge win.
Lakers are just one game ahead of the Spurs to avoid missing the postseason entirely. – 9:22 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers blow 23 point lead and drop important game, 116-108 to Pelicans. – 9:22 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
What a win. #Pelicans were down 23 in first half but came all the way back to beat Lakers. Such a cool scene just before buzzer as Naji Marshall holds ball, yelling to the crowd, which went absolutely unhinged – 9:22 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
The Lakers held a 23-point lead at one point.
The Pelicans just won 116-108.
According to @ESPNStatsInfo research, it’s the largest blown lead in a game LeBron James has played in for the Lakers. – 9:22 PM StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron James tonight:
39 PTS
9 REB
5 AST
14-27 FG
7-13 3P
It’s his 17th loss when scoring 30+, the most by any player this season. pic.twitter.com/Kqu3GzS9ZJ – 9:22 PM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
FINAL:
Pels 116
Lakers 108
with 8 games remaining, Lakers have just:
• fallen to 10th in the west
• conceded the season tiebreaker to NO, who are now ahead of them
• have only a 1 game lead over the Spurs, who hold the play-in tiebreaker because of better conference record – 9:22 PM Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
The narrative is that the Lakers collapsed but maybe we should give a little bit of credit to New Orleans.
They took a punch in the first half and did not fold.
Big time performance by Trey Murphy – 9:22 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Final: Pelicans 116, Lakers 108
The Lakers blew a 20-point halftime lead to fall to 31-43 — 0.5 games behind the Pelicans, who have passed them for No. 9 in the West. The Spurs are now just one game back. LeBron had 39 pts, 9 rebs and 5 asts.
Up next: at Dallas on Tuesday. – 9:22 PM Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
The Pelicans recover from being down 23 points to win key game 116-108 over a Lakers team they could see back in New Orleans in a do or die play-in game. FWIW, the Pelicans own the tie-breaker over the Lakers. New Orleans now in ninth seed. pic.twitter.com/zNXPDrI5c1 – 9:22 PM Jon Hamm @JonMHamm
Lakers blew a 23-point lead. Just started playing totally casual while Trey Murphy III went on a tear in the second half. – 9:22 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
FINAL: Pelicans 116, Lakers 108.
New Orleans erases 20-point deficit and gains control of the No. 9 seed.
Pelicans have clinched the season series over the Lakers.
Have a night, New Orleans. – 9:22 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Pelicans come back from down 20+ against the Lakers in the most important game they’ve had in YEARS – 9:21 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Final. pic.twitter.com/3UeXFziARy – 9:21 PM Shaun Powell @Powell2daPeople
Lakers in trouble. – 9:21 PM Bill Oram @billoram
An indefensible collapse. The Lakers blow a 23-point lead and lose 116-108 in New Orleans to drop to 10th in the West, half a game back of these Pelicans. They are clinging to that final Play-In spot by just one game over San Antonio with eight games remaining. Buckle up. – 9:21 PM StatMuse @statmuse
Most 30-point games that end in losses this season:
17 — LeBron James
16 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
No other player has more than 9. pic.twitter.com/Y1mRmapQ3W – 9:21 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Final: Pelicans 116, Lakers 108
New Orleans comes back from 23 down to beat LA.
Trey Murphy scored 16 of his 21 points in the third quarter.
Pels move a 1/2 game ahead of the Lakers and win the head-to-head tiebreaker. – 9:21 PM Dave McMenamin @mcten
Just an absolutely brutal loss for the Lakers. The Pelicans overcome a 23-point first half deficit to win 116-108 and move a half game up over LAL for the No. 9 seed with eight games left. And LAL only holds a one-game lead over No. 11 San Antonio. – 9:21 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
The Lakers said it themselves: As close to a must-win as they’ve had this season. New Orleans dissected them in the second half. It’ll cost them the season tiebreaker, and they’ve dropped to 10th place only one game up on the Spurs.
FINAL: Pelicans 116, Lakers 108. – 9:21 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL lose the season tiebreaker to the Pelicans, significant if they have the same record. – 9:21 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Play-in race standings update:
No. 9 – Pelicans – 32-43
No. 10 – Lakers – 31-43
No. 11 – Spurs – 30-44
The Pelicans now own the tiebreaker over the Lakers. – 9:21 PM Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
From 3-16 record the Pelicans does the turnaround of the season. By far!
Just one question… with full healthy Zion how better those Pelicans could be right now? #WBD – 9:21 PM StatMuse @statmuse
The Lakers are now 10th, one game up from the Spurs at 11th.
Their remaining schedule:
— at Mavs
— at Jazz
— vs Pelicans
— vs Nuggets
— at Suns
— at Warriors
— vs Thunder
— at Nuggets pic.twitter.com/pmdGf7m3Jc – 9:20 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
The Pelicans took LeBron’s best shot, shrugged it off and covered the spread.
What a freaking half. – 9:20 PM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Season potentially on the line and the Lakers are on the verge of blowing a 23-point lead. – 9:20 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
This win will give the Pelicans a half-game lead over the Lakers for the 9th seed and a 1.5-game lead over the Spurs.
This win also gives the Pels the tiebreaker over the Lakers. – 9:20 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
CJ McCollum hasn’t had a great game by his lofty standards but a lefty floater goaltended by LeBron gives Pels 7-point lead at 0:29. Huge basket – 9:18 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Four years of pent up frustration has gotten released for many Pelicans fans in here the last hour.
Unquestionably the best scene in SKC since 2018 Playoffs, and honestly, most of this second half it’s been better. – 9:18 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
It’s going down in the SKC! Someone should have told that to LeBron on that goaltend – 9:17 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Sound the alarm 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zxEalo9jZD – 9:17 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
The Lakers were up 20 at the half.
The Pelicans are up 5 with 59.1 seconds to play. – 9:16 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Melo gets the wide open 3 guarded by JV who didn’t get out on him, but missed the wide open corner 3 to tie. And then they go at Melo on the other end, put 2 on the ball and CJ finds JV underneath for the layup against the too-small help of Monk. – 9:16 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
For all criticism of the Play-In this Pelicans v. Lakers game and the intensity is the reason why it exists. Incredible atmosphere in an otherwise pointless game – 9:16 PM Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers, once up by 23, trail by five here in New Orleans with 59.1 seconds left. Former Laker Brandon Ingram has been twisting the knife here in the 4th with big play after big play. – 9:15 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
The Pels have outscored the Lakers 64-39 in the second half. Incredible turnaround after getting smoked in the first half. – 9:15 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
CJ McCollum finds Jonas Valanciunas cutting through the lane for an easy two. Pelicans up on the Lakers 113-108 with 59.1 seconds.
Let’s finish this off right, guys! – 9:15 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Pelicans up 113-108 with 59.1 seconds to play. – 9:15 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
This Pelicans team definitely wants to play more basketball – 9:15 PM Kyle Ratke @Kyle_Ratke
If the Lakers lose to the Pelicans, the Spurs are just a half game behind them 😬😎 – 9:14 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL, struggling to score all 4th Q, found themselves down 111-105 with 2:20 to play.
They cut it in half with a Monk 3, thanks to 2 offensive boards from Westbrook. LAL ball with 1:30 left. – 9:14 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Trey Murphy with 21 points, 4-6 from 3, and a spot in the closing lineup at the 2 vs Lakers. Lakers have gone small with LeBron at C, JV guarding Carmelo – 9:13 PM Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
This game has been the story of the Lakers season – 9:13 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Lakers are having a tough time finding someone to guard Ingram and #Pelicans keep feeding him the ball. He’s too athletic/quick and can shoot over the guys attempting to cover – 9:12 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Brandon Ingram’s got that look in his eye. He wants to finish these Lakers off himself. Hit a turnaround fadeaway from the post and is now going to the free throw line. Could put the Pelicans up 6 with 2:20 left. – 9:12 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Being able to turn to a Brandon Ingram midrange iso out of a timeout is such a boost compared to where the Pelicans have been the last 10 games. – 9:12 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Dwight Howard is up to 32 and a half minutes in this one. Lakers put him back out after the timeout to counter Valanciunas. He was in doubt today with a sore groin before ultimately giving it a go. – 9:11 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Who on the Lakers is wearing the jean shorts. Is that Davis? – 9:10 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
After going nuclear in the second quarter, the Lakers have devolved back into that team that can’t score. Bad O leads to bad D. BK – 9:10 PM Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Donovan Mitchell checks back in….That was a short stint out after having Dwight Powell come down on Mitchell’s right ankle. – 9:08 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Herb Jones’s defense – 9:07 PM Ben Anderson @BensHoops
Dwight Powell just came down on Donovan Mitchell’s ankle and he was down for a while before he limped off the floor.
Jazz down 11 with 5:45 left in the third quarter. Tough stretch for the team. – 9:06 PM Bill Oram @billoram
Malik Monk has gotten some crazy shots to fall. 18 points off the bench has been huge tonight. – 9:06 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
That was Herb Jones’ 6th steal – a new career high.
And that was a nifty finish against LeBron James – that didn’t go Herb’s way the first two times back the first quarter. – 9:06 PM Eric Walden @tribjazz
In the Bad to Worse Department: Looks like Donovan Mitchell twisted his ankle after Dwight Powell landed on his foot. – 9:05 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
MELO FROM D👀P 🕺🏻🛸💕
@LaMelo Ball | #AllFly pic.twitter.com/wKLa4yt7QD – 9:05 PM Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell hobbled off the court after Dwight Powell landed on his right foot/ankle. – 9:05 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Herb Jones just nabbed his 6th steal of the game — a new career-high – 9:05 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
GOT EM!!
📺: @BallySportsNO
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/c8DWyJI4wy – 9:01 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
MELO!!! pic.twitter.com/IKsEBcYg8s – 8:59 PM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I’m glad I gave up my emotional attachment to the 2022 Lakers a month ago. – 8:58 PM Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Pelicans-Lakers 😮 – 8:58 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
CJ McCollum runner puts the Pelicans up 100-98 on the Lakers.
Lawler’s Law, right? – 8:58 PM John Schuhmann @johnschuhmann
I generally think all broadcasts should talk less about the officiating, but I laughed at Antonio Daniels saying “Message!” (from Don’t be a Menace) when Joel Meyers said that LeBron picked up just his first foul in 32 minutes. – 8:57 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
First lead for New Orleans on a pair of FTs. There’s 8 minutes left. – 8:56 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
The Pelicans, once down 20, are now winning. – 8:56 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Jonas Valanciunas’ two FTs give the Pelicans their first lead of the game, 98-96, with 8:12 remaining. – 8:56 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
With those free throws by Jonas Valanciunas, the Pelicans just took their first lead of the game.
Pels up 98-96 with 8:12 to go. – 8:56 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Jonas Valanciunas hits a free throw to give the Pelicans their first lead of the game – 8:56 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Lakers were up 23 in 1H but #Pelicans have come all the way back to take the lead early 4Q and Trey Murphy is out of this world right now – 8:56 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
LeBron James has passed Karl Malone for 2nd place on the NBA’s all-time field goals made list. pic.twitter.com/wryNZReEBM – 8:55 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
With his 13th field goal of the night, LeBron James passed Karl Malone for second place on the NBA’s all-time field goals made list, via Lakers PR. – 8:55 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
How much longer before Trey Murphy catches LeBron on the all-time scoring list? – 8:55 PM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
oh dear god WE ARE TIED IN NEW ORLEANS – 8:55 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Trey MURPHY III has just tied this game up at 96 apiece!!!! – 8:55 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
What the hell did the Lakers do to Trey Murphy to earn this wrath? AK – 8:55 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Devonte Graham is 1/6 FG, 0/4 3pt, 2 points.
Trey Murphy III has picked up the slack for the bench, up to 18 points in 6/9 FG, 3/5 3pt.
Pels down 96-93, 8:50 4Q. – 8:54 PM Bill Oram @billoram
The Pelicans have not led in this game but they are knocking on the door. 94-93 Lakers. Pelicans have owned the second half. – 8:54 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
It’s a 1-point game. Pelicans all the way back. – 8:53 PM Neil Dalal @NeilDalal96
Wizards announce back-to-back home sellouts marking just their third of the season
Of course heavily complimented by away Lakers and Warriors fans – 8:50 PM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
considering the schedules the Lakers/Pelicans/Spurs have remaining … could very easily argue these next 12 minutes are the season here for LA. – 8:50 PM Bill Oram @billoram
94-90 Lakers after 3 in the Big Easy. Most meaningful game of the season for the Lakers… After leading by as many as 23 points in the first half this would be an epic, and crushing, collapse. – 8:48 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Third quarter: Lakers 94, Pelicans 90
The Pelicans outscored the Lakers 41-25 in the third to make this a game in the fourth. LeBron James has 35 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Russell Westbrook has 16 points. Malik Monk has 14. The biggest 12 minutes of the season for LA. – 8:48 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Trey Murphy III has 16 points, all in the 3rd Q, as NOP outscored LAL 41-25 to trim all but 4 points off the 20-point halftime lead.
Pelicans went 5 for 10 from 3 in the 3rd after hitting 3 of 12 in the 1st half. Lakers went 11 for 18 in 1st half, 2 for 6 in 3rd. – 8:48 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
🔴🔴🔴
🍿 pic.twitter.com/NevXzBS3Dc – 8:48 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers horrible on defense in third, giving up 41 points and once 23 point lead down to 94-90 end of quarter. – 8:48 PM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Kent Bazemore is ready if needed. pic.twitter.com/Y3A2RqJFFY – 8:48 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of the 3rd: Lakers 94, Pelicans 90
Ingram 19 pts, 5 rebs & 5 assts
Murphy 16 pts (all in the 3rd)
Valanciunas 15 pts & 7 rebs
Pels outscored the Lakers 41-25 in the quarter. – 8:48 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Trey Murphy’s third quarter: 5/6 FG, 3/3 on treys, 3/3 FTs, 16 pts – 8:48 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
If you are taking it slow running back on defense, Russell Westbrook will zoom past you and take the free bucket. His hesitancy during his slump was pretty apparent, but in this game he’s 8 for 13 and making the Pels pay on those. – 8:48 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Final frame, coming up. pic.twitter.com/Z0gI4TK1s0 – 8:47 PM Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Trey Murphy is now shooting 49% from 3 in March
The rookie is now up to 16 points heading into the 4Q – 8:47 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Lakers led by as many as 23 points.
Pels cut it to as little as 2 but Lakers take a 94-90 lead into the fourth quarter. – 8:47 PM Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Pelicans cut the Lakers 20-point halftime lead all the way down to two in the third. We head to the 4th Q with L.A. up 94-90. – 8:47 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Trey Murphy scored 16 points in the third quarter. Rookie shot the Pels back into the game. – 8:47 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
TreyMurphy hits both free throws to give him 16 points in the quarter. – 8:46 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Trey Murphy faking out Lakers from 30 feet away and then drawing whistles when he drives.
It’s really happening. – 8:46 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/inoZXhjelf – 8:45 PM Jordan Schultz @Schultz_Report
Who’s cutting down the nets next weekend in New Orleans?! 🏁🏆 – 8:44 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL’s lead is down to 2, and NOP have all the momentum. – 8:44 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Another trey for Trey Murphy, picks up the charge against Carmelo Anthony and now picks up an And-1 on a drive through the lane.
So here for the Trey Murphy tops LeBron James game. – 8:44 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Remember when Trey Murphy was unplayable? – 8:44 PM Bill Oram @billoram
Didn’t have time to fact check this but off the top of my head Trey Murphy III is the best player in the NBA – 8:43 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
No one is having a better third quarter than Trey Murphy. Had the big dunk, hitting some shots, just had a charge against Melo and scored on Gabriel. – 8:43 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
The Pelicans have done a really nice job moving the ball around and forcing the Laker defense to continually scramble. Conversely, the Lakers reverted from moving the ball to seemingly looking too often for a knockout punch that didn’t come. Things have gotten tighter since. AK – 8:43 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
ANOTHER ONE TREY – 8:42 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Trey Murphy has been great off the bench tonight – 8:42 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Trey Murphy is an aggressive offensive rebounder – 8:40 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Starting to look like LeBron is gonna NEED 50 to put the Pelicans away. New Orleans decided to play some defense and hit from outside in the second half. – 8:37 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL had the game in control at the half, but didn’t come out with the same intensity. The Pelicans are now fully engaged, and have hit 3 straight 3’s, helping them trim LAL’s 20-point lead to 5 before a LeBron layup made it 85-78 with 4 min. to play in the 3rd. – 8:37 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Crowd is erupting after every positive Pelicans play. And there’s 19 minutes left. If they can complete the comeback, New Orleans fans will be a big reason why. – 8:36 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
We have a game now. Lakers once 23 point lead down to 85-78 after Pelicans call time out with 4:00 left in the third. – 8:36 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
The Lakers led by 23, but now it’s just five. Fighting to stay ahead of the Pels, but the offense is shaky and LeBron’s mobility is a factor. – 8:35 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Trey Murphy has entered the chat, dunking on people and hitting 3s – 8:35 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
THREE BAAALLL
📺: @BallySportsNO
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/hJ2MuGPWwO – 8:34 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Trey Murphy with some huge plays in the third quarter. Back to back 3s gets New Orleans within 6. – 8:34 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
TMIII for another THREE.
Pelicans deficit down to 81-75.
This is incredible. – 8:34 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Trey Murphy III answering LeBron’s 3 with one of his own >>>>> – 8:33 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
The Pelicans trailed by as many as 23 points. They’ve cut the deficit to just 9 and we’re not even halfway through the third quarter yet. – 8:33 PM Bill Oram @billoram
The Lakers offense has dried up and the Pelicans are within nine: 78-69. – 8:33 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
ON HIS HEAD TREY MURPHY pic.twitter.com/CBVwrKx2aa – 8:30 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Trey Murphy with a monster putback dunk off CJ’s missed three and Tony Brothers immediately rings him up for taunting. All TMIII did was look at Wenyen Gabriel.
This is embarrassingly bad officiating, @NBAOfficial – 8:30 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Trey Murphy T’d up for being a human with eyes – 8:30 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Tony Brothers T’s up Trey Murphy for giving Wenyen Gabriel a look after that last dunk. – 8:30 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Nuggets Magic Number to claim a top 6 spot in the West with 7 games to go following that T’Wolves loss.
6. DEN, 44-31
7. MIN, 43-33
Nuggets remaining schedule:
@ CHA
@ IND
*v MIN*
@ LAL
v SAS
v MEM
v LAL – 8:30 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL have made a number of careless, unforced turnovers that have opened the door for New Orleans, already within 12 at 78-66, chopping 8 points off the halftime lead, with 6:52 to play in the 3rd Q. – 8:30 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
oh my – 8:29 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Trey Murphy gets hit for a technical for looking at someone. – 8:29 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
B.I. AND1 💪
📺: @BallySportsNO
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/3S9Cvi5FfV – 8:28 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Thus endeth the “Wenyen Gabriel hit-ahead passes” era. AK – 8:28 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Austin Reaves only has one steal tonight, but I don’t think that actually shows how frisky he’s been. He just threw Herb Jones off again on a potential fast break opportunity under the basket. – 8:27 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Tonight, Russell Westbrook has passed Dwyane Wade (31st) and Adrian Dantley (30th) on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. pic.twitter.com/kvXr8fy5FQ – 8:24 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
With his sixth field goal of the game, Russell Westbrook passed Adrian Dantley for 30th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, via Lakers PR. – 8:23 PM Janis Carr @janiscarr
Just showed Red Panda on TV at the Lakers-Pelicans game and let’s just say, it wasn’t one of her best performances. – 8:15 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
LeBron has been lights out from beyond the arc 👌 pic.twitter.com/IrjVeEU1T3 – 8:11 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Scenes from the half 📸 pic.twitter.com/9ywLK59zgL – 8:09 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Lakers 69, Pelicans 49
The Lakers just had one of their best halves of the season in their biggest game of the season. LeBron was spectacular with 25 points, including six 3s. Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk each have 12 points. – 8:05 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Still early (I know), but I didn’t expect this to be a blowout in the Lakers’ favor. Thought this would be a nail-biter all the way through.
69 points in the first half – 20-pt lead 👀
IF the Lakers keep this up, they very well may have something brewing moving forward. – 8:04 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
24 minutes to go.
@LeBron James: 25 pts, 5 reb
@Russell Westbrook: 12 pts, 4 reb
@Malik Monk: 12 pts, 6 ast pic.twitter.com/bVBVnmaHqu – 8:04 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
🔴🔴 pic.twitter.com/6yYGKqVkc3 – 8:04 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of the 1st half: Lakers 69, Pelicans 49
Ingram 10 pts
Jones 10 pts & 5 stls
McCollum 7 pts
LeBron James (25 pts) and the Lakers came up and punched the Pels square in the mouth to start this one. Surreal stuff from LeBron in a game we knew he would be up for. – 8:04 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James has 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting, 6-for-9 on threes, Russell Westbrook 12 and Malik Monk 12 as Lakers open 69-49 lead over Pelicans at the half. – 8:04 PM Bill Oram @billoram
The Lakers are up 69-49 on the Pelicans after a sizling first half. They are shooting 66.7% from the field and have drained 11-of-19 3-pointers. LeBron has a game-high 25 points despite appearing to roll his left ankle early in the second quarter. – 8:03 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
HALF: Lakers 69, Pelicans 49
– LeBron was ready for this one: 25p, 5r, 3a, 6/9 3P
– Ingram: 10p, 3r, 2a
– Herb: 10p, 5s
– CJ: 7p, 4a
– JV: 8p, 3r
Pels: 44.9 FG%, 3/12 3P, 2/3 FT
Lakers: 66.7 FG%, 11/19 3P, 6/7 FT – 8:03 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
LeBron has 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Completely dominant first half. Those deep 3s late in the shot clock are back breakers. – 8:03 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Lakers take a 69-49 lead into the half. LeBron didn’t sit after turning his ankle, playing the entire 2nd Q, scoring 25 points in his 21 minutes. – 8:03 PM Dave McMenamin @mcten
Lakers head into halftime up 69-49 on the Pelicans. A win would increase their lead on New Orleans for the No. 9 spot from 1/2 game to 1.5 games. – 8:03 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Lakers are 11/19 from three-point range in building 20-point lead late 2Q. They’ve shot over 50% from the arc once in 73 games this season. Season high in makes in a game is 19 – 8:00 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Lakers are on fire from 3, now 11 for 18 after Westbrook hit his second tonight. LeBron has 6, Monk 1 and Augustin 2.
Including his 2 for 2 tonight, Augustin is 21 for 41 from 3 since the Lakers acquired him, good for 51.2%. – 8:00 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Wrote about how LeBron has evolved as a scorer over the last decade earlier this month. Tonight he is absolutely hammering from his 3-point sweet spot.
https://t.co/nQqWvKvN50 pic.twitter.com/6SLRgGTxMD – 7:59 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
The Lakers are playing at a quick pace, but just as importantly, a very decisive pace. There have been very few possessions in this first half where the ball got bogged down because guys didn’t seem to know what to do with it. AK – 7:59 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Russell Westbrook with a 3 and then a drive for layup, as Lakers are blowing this game open with a 65-42 lead. – 7:58 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
The Lakers have blown this game open in the second quarter, 65-42, with 2:30 remaining in the first half. Timeout Pelicans. – 7:58 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James is 6-9 from deep and now Russell Westbrook just hit his second 3-point attempt. pic.twitter.com/qXNS4NrQEM – 7:58 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron came to play today. Lakers have flipped the script from the last time these two team played. – 7:57 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Lakers up by 23 points(!!!). – 7:57 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron airballed his first 3 since tweaking his ankle … but has since hit 4 triples, towards a 6 for 9 effort already from distance.
He has 23 points, and has LAL up 60-42 with 3 minutes left in the half. – 7:57 PM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
only way i know how to describe what is happening in New Orleans this first half pic.twitter.com/nm0MJXzOV6 – 7:57 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
👑👑👑👑 – 7:56 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron has 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting (6 of 9 on 3s). – 7:56 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Damn LeBron…long ass three-ball gives Lakers a 20 point lead and him 23 points – 7:56 PM Bill Oram @billoram
LeBron is 6-of-9 from 3 and it’s not even halftime yet. – 7:56 PM Dave McMenamin @mcten
Frank Vogel pregame: “We want to be a team that catches fire at the right time.” So far, that’s happening tonight. The Lakers are shooting 63.6% from the field and 56.3% from 3 and have a 17 point lead on the Pelicans with 3:50 to go in the 2nd Q. – 7:55 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron now has five 3-pointers tonight with 4 minutes left in the first half. Zooming past the career 37,000-point mark. – 7:54 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
LeBron is going nuts – 7:53 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron air-balled his first 3 after turning his ankle, but has 2 makes since, including a deep one moments ago to put LAL up 47-33. DJ Augustin also has a pair of 3’s as he continues his hot shooting. – 7:52 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron James is now the second player in NBA history to score 37,000 career points. – 7:51 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
With his sixth field goal of the contest, LeBron James became the second player in NBA history to score 37,000 career points, via Lakers PR. – 7:51 PM Bill Oram @billoram
The Lakers just rattled off 13 unanswered points to go up by 16. This has been an impressive performance. – 7:51 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Lakers on a 13-0 run fueled by outside shooting. – 7:50 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
The lineups without Ingram or McCollum certainly lack for consistency on offense. – 7:49 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
THE ALLEY. THE OOP. pic.twitter.com/wgMC8oThjl – 7:45 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Saw Wenyen without seeing him. pic.twitter.com/XJWXnUfIGd – 7:45 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron stretched the ankle w/a band during the time out, and upon returning, attempted a 3 that was well short.
LAL were up 36-27 when LeBron hurt the ankle as THT scored inside, and New Orleans scored in transition as he remained down. Pelicans now on a 6-0 run, lead down to 3. – 7:45 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
sweet moves @AlvaradoJose15 😀 pic.twitter.com/hUm3pz8FRM – 7:43 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Jaxson Hayes is trying so hard not to catch the ball or do anything with his left hand right now.
Even on that alley-oop finish, he got his left hand off it as quickly as possible. – 7:43 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Herb Jones just picked up his 5th steal and Jaxson Hayes gets a dunk in transition. Pelicans trail the Lakers 36-33, but the momentum is clearly on New Orleans’ side. – 7:43 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Augustin-Westbrook-Anthony is a rough defensive trio. – 7:43 PM Eddie Sefko @ESefko
First Mavs’ possession ends with Dwight Powell offensive rebound and put-back. With no Rudy Gobert (or Hassan Whiteside), Mavs should be able to win the boards tonight. – 7:42 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James, who stayed in the game after twisting his left ankle, shoots an airball over Trey Murphy and the crowd lets him know about it. – 7:42 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron is checking back in and playing through it. – 7:41 PM Bill Oram @billoram
LeBron stays in the game after the timeout. – 7:41 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James is back in game – 7:41 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron appeared to tweak his ankle, but is remaining in the game here. – 7:41 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James helped up off the court, walks slowly to seat, getting looked at by Lakers medical people. – 7:40 PM Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James went down to the floor after appearing to tweak his left ankle. L.A. called timeout, James re-laced his sneaker and is walking by the bench, trying to test it out. – 7:39 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron is now walking around after getting pulled up. He’s testing the ankle. Did the thing where he reties his shoe. – 7:39 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
After falling and holding his left ankle, LeBron is up and walking around. – 7:39 PM Bill Oram @billoram
Looked like LeBron rolled an ankle. He’s down on the court in New Orleans. Lakers lead 36-29 but this is… – 7:38 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
LeBron is down on the floor and reaching at his left ankle. Trainers come out on the floor to check on him – 7:38 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James goes down holding left ankle. Still on ground during timeout. – 7:38 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron fell and immediately grabbed his left ankle. – 7:38 PM Jake Madison @NOLAJake
Oh hell yeah Jose over LeBron – 7:36 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
🔴
@TaxAct | #WBD pic.twitter.com/Vs89cS4hB6 – 7:34 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Behind LeBron James’ 11 points, Russell Westbrook’s 7, Malik Monk’s 7, Lakers open 31-23 lead over Pelicans end of first. – 7:34 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
1st quarter
@LeBron James: 11 pts, 3 reb
@Russell Westbrook: 7 pts, 3 reb
@Malik Monk: 7 pts pic.twitter.com/GvjpOuHIMQ – 7:34 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Not a typo. The Lakers have increased a lead with LeBron on the bench. AK – 7:34 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL take a 31-23 lead out of a productive 1st Q in which LeBron led the way early (10 points in a 12-0 run) and Westbrook and Monk closed the quarter strong after NOP had trimmed the margin to 3. – 7:34 PM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
feels like the play-in tournament started today in New Orleans whew that first quarter. – 7:33 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
First quarter: Lakers 31, Pelicans 23
A dominant first-quarter performance from LeBron, who scored 11 points, grabbed 3 rebounds and blocked a shot. Russell Westbrook has 7 points. Malik Monk has 7 off the bench. LA is playing with the sense of urgency they’ve displayed lately. – 7:33 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of the 1st: Lakers 31, Pelicans 23
McCollum 7 pts & 3 assts
Ingram 6 pts & 3 rebs
Jones 4 pts & 4 stls
James 11 pts & 3 rebs – 7:33 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
After Q1: Lakers 31, Pelicans 23. – 7:33 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
H3333RB pic.twitter.com/NriLs2K9IJ – 7:32 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Nice minutes from both Monk and Westbrook on offense, picking up the scoring load with LeBron on the bench.
Monk has 7 quick points, and Westbrook 7 as well as LAL lead 31-23. – 7:32 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Pelicans say Jaxson Hayes dislocated his left index finger.
He is available to return to tonight’s game. – 7:31 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Jaxson Hayes is available to return for New Orleans with a dislocated left index finger. – 7:31 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Jaxson Hayes dislocated his left index finger. He’ll continue playing. – 7:31 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Jaxson Hayes is back on the bench. Looks like he has some kind of wrap on his finger – 7:30 PM New Orleans Pelicans PR @PelicansPR
Jaxson Hayes (dislocated left index finger) will return to tonight’s game. – 7:30 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Herb Jones has 4 steals and we’re not even 10 minutes into this game. And this time he finished the fast break with a slam dunk. – 7:30 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
The Lakers really, really, really need to stop making lazy passes around Herb Jones. All four Lakers turnovers so far have ended up in his hands. – 7:29 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Herb Jones has 4 steals.
We haven’t hit the 10-minute mark. – 7:29 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Herb Jones already has 4 steals in the first quarter – 7:29 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Game started about as poorly as possible with Lakers up 12-0 but #Pelicans have settled in and are getting a lot of good shots. Herb and LeBron meeting on fast breaks a couple times already. Herb has 3 stl in 8 mins – 7:28 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
With a corner 3, Russell Westbrook surpassed Dwyane Wade for 31st on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, with 23,167 points.
He’s now 11 points from catching Adrian Dantley for 30th. – 7:28 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Herb Jones probably wishing he could have do-overs of each of his three transition drives.
Still, after falling behind 12-0, Pelicans have roared back to only trail by 3 at 20-17. McCollum really settled New Orleans with a couple of hoops and then Ingram took over. – 7:26 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
LeBron James and Jose Alvarado are jawing at each other a whole lot.
Alvarado has yet to play. – 7:25 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Watch Stanley Johnson and Herb Jones. They were really battling for rebounding position on that last Dwight Howard FT attempt. – 7:24 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
With his first basket of the night, Russell Westbrook passed Dwyane Wade for 31st place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, via Lakers PR. – 7:24 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Brandon Ingram missed his first couple shots, but he’s hit 3 in a row since. On his second make, a driving layup, he grabbed ball out of basket and threw it to ref on baseline. Never mind… – 7:22 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
UPDATE: LeBron no longer has more points than the Pelicans do. They now have the same amount (11). – 7:22 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
New Orleans battled back quickly into this one with a 7-0 run, which Russell Westbrook broke with his first jumper tonight.
It’s 16-9 midway through the 1st Q. – 7:22 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
LeBron James and Jose Alvarado doing a little jawing.
Need Jose to get in this game pronto. – 7:21 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James and Jose Alvarado JAWING at each other for close to a minute after LeBron blocks Herb Jones’ lay-up attempt.
Can’t wait for Jose to get in this game. – 7:21 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
You knew LeBron was going to be up for this one. – 7:20 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron here hinting at what he provide in a potential 1-game play-in scenario with this start, up to 12-0 after he scored again. – 7:19 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
3-3 FG, 8 points, under 3 minutes played.
Only @LeBron James.
(📺: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/kKHvCUZgsX – 7:18 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron 10, Pelicans 0. – 7:17 PM Tas Melas @TasMelas
Ok, Lakers. – 7:16 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers looking serious jump out to 10-0 lead over Pelicans – 7:15 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL open this game with a 10-0 burst, with @LeBron James hitting a pair of 3’s and a layup, plus Dwight Howard’s layup, around a series of stops on the other end.
LeBron’s been all over the place on defense as well. – 7:15 PM Dave McMenamin @mcten
Lakers jump out to a 10-0 lead in what is the biggest game of the season up to this point. LeBron has 8 of those points. – 7:14 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Lakers are off to a 10-0 start. LeBron already has 8 points.
Pels are looking like a team that hasn’t played in this type of game before. – 7:14 PM Bill Oram @billoram
The Lakers have had four excellent defensive possessions and are pitching a shutout early in New Orleans. They are up 10-0 and playing like a team that knows this game matters. – 7:14 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Jaxson Hayes looked like he was in pretty bad pain. Headed back to the locker room quickly. Holding a hand or finger. Couldn’t tell. – 7:14 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Jaxson Hayes just bolted into the locker room.
Hard to say exactly what he heart but looked like either hand or midsection. – 7:14 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Jaxson Hayes is grabbing at his hand and heads immediately to the locker room. Naji Marshall subs in to take his place. – 7:13 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Jaxson Hayes is grabbing at his hand/finger and just ran straight off the court and to the locker room. One of the trainers was right behind him. – 7:13 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
A spirited 8-0 start from the Lakers, led by a couple of 3s from LeBron. LA is playing with a playoff-like intensity early. – 7:13 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Jaxson Hayes flew by to try to contest a LeBron corner three. LeBron pumped, stepped to his left, took a long exaggerated look at Hayes and sunk the shot.
Two early threes for LeBron. – 7:13 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
LeBron James just picked up Herb Jones full court.
Think this is gonna be a fun one, folks. – 7:12 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
LeBron guarding Herb Jones on the opening possession like it’s the 4th quarter of Game 7.
I think he wants this one. – 7:12 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Huge boos for entire Lakers starting lineup. This is going to be a fun night – 7:06 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Pretty wild that Wenyen Gabriel couldn’t crack SVG’s rotation last season but is in the starting lineup for the Lakers a year later. – 6:53 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Play Lakers Pick ‘Em for a chance to win tickets to see the #LakeShow – 6:45 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Ready to roll in NO.
#SuitingUpTogether | @ToyotaSoCal pic.twitter.com/kIpDToTbbO – 6:39 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers’ starters vs. New Orleans:
Dwight Howard
Wenyen Gabriel
LeBron Jame
Austin Reaves
Russell Westbrook – 6:33 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Dwight Howard’s workout found him good enough to play with the sore hip, and he’ll start alongside Westbrook, Reaves, LeBron and Gabriel.
As expected, New Orleans will have McCollum, Ingram and Valanciunas all available. – 6:32 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Your starting 5 is back 💪
#Pelicans | @Verizon pic.twitter.com/IrWG2OSkPK – 6:32 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Pelicans returning to the CJ McCollum-Herb Jones-Brandon Ingram-Jaxson Hayes-Jonas Valanciunas starting 5.
That group is +10.2 this season. – 6:32 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Lakers still rocking with the big lineup that they started against Cleveland. Dwight Howard is in.
Pelicans have Ingram, Valanciunas and McCollum all available as well. pic.twitter.com/m5cFgGfFih – 6:31 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Pelicans starters tonight:
CJ McCollum
Herb Jones
Brandon Ingram
Jaxson Hayes
Jonas Valanciunas – 6:31 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Starters:
CJ McCollum
Herb Jones
Brandon Ingram
Jaxson Hayes
Jonas Valanciunas – 6:30 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Unfortunate timing for the most crowded Pelicans game in three years to coincide with some closures to Superdome parking garage entrances (due to Final Four).
Not sure I’ve ever seen this kind of traffic before a Pels game. – 6:25 PM Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
More angles of the upcoming Jordan Zion 2 from today’s Pelicans shoot-around.
Appears to have same cushioning setup as Zion 1:
– Full-length Air Strobel
– Forefoot Zoom Air pic.twitter.com/H8K5QzFw3o – 6:17 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Three #Pelicans starters who were on injury list are all available to play vs. Lakers. @MorrisBartLLC injury report: https://t.co/seWBe2gEUw pic.twitter.com/S7nLau33SO – 6:16 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas will play tonight, Pelicans say. – 6:13 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Pelicans say CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas are AVAILABLE.
Brandon Ingram back as well. – 6:12 PM New Orleans Pelicans PR @PelicansPR
Updated Injury Report vs. Lakers:
Brandon Ingram (right hamstring soreness), CJ McCollum (left ankle sprain), and Jonas Valanciunas (right foot soreness) are AVAILABLE for tonight’s game.
Larry Nance Jr. (right knee arthroscopy) is OUT. – 6:12 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas will all be available tonight vs the Lakers, per the Pelicans – 6:12 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
all love pic.twitter.com/8Sc7CI8kef – 6:08 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Try your hand at Pelicans Courtside Challenge! 📲
Answer five timed trivia questions for a shot at autographed merchandise, courtesy of @SeatGeek .
Play now on the Pelicans app: https://t.co/o9NQ2Qn2gW pic.twitter.com/5LiJVkw29E – 6:03 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Dwight Howard is a game time decision. He has some hip soreness that he felt the morning after L.A.’s last game, where he played 28 minutes against Philly, towards a season-high 24 points with 8 boards. – 5:54 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
NBA games on today that matter to the Nuggets (and fans):
MIN vs BOS
PHX vs PHI
GSW vs WAS
LAL vs NOP
UTA vs DAL – 5:52 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
putting in reps 💪 pic.twitter.com/tj0nQWYCPK – 5:50 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Frank Vogel says Anthony Davis continues to ramp up his on-court activity but isn’t ready to return yet. – 5:37 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel on Anthony Davis: “He’s ramping up activity. Not ready yet.” – 5:37 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Dwight Howard game time decision, per Vogel – 5:37 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel says Dwight Howard is a game time decision, but mentions his groin is really sore. – 5:37 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says Dwight Howard (groin) is a game-time decision. – 5:36 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Dwight Howard is a game-time decision per Vogel. – 5:36 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says the Lakers’ “psyche” is different from the last time they played the Pelicans. – 5:36 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Looking back on the first game against the Pelicans a few weeks ago, Frank Vogel said the Lakers were just sloppy coming out of the All-Star break: “Our team’s psyche is different from where we were at that point in time.” – 5:35 PM Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
LeBron James will play in New Orleans tonight, Lakers coach Frank Vogel says.
Brandon Ingram is expected to play for the Pelicans but likely on a minutes restriction, while CJ McCollum is a game-time decision.
More NBA from me: marcstein.substack.com – 5:34 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
THT, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, is also available.
Vogel said LAL’s coaching staff is expecting McCollum and Valanciunas to be available for New Orleans. – 5:33 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James and Talen Horton-Tucker both playing, per Vogel – 5:32 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Frank Vogel says LeBron James and Talen Horton-Tucker are available for tonight’s game. – 5:31 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Both LeBron James and Talen Horton-Tucker are available tonight against New Orleans. – 5:31 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says LeBron James and Talen Horton-Tucker are both available tonight. – 5:31 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron James and Talen Horton-Tucker are both available today, per Frank Vogel. – 5:31 PM Bill Oram @billoram
LeBron and THT are both available, Frank Vogel says. – 5:31 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron will play tonight. – 5:31 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Willie Green updates status pregame for Lakers game of Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, Larry Nance Jr. #Pelicans injury report via @MorrisBartLLC: https://t.co/Q73dueN3E2 pic.twitter.com/XAq7sqjQVW – 5:22 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Willie Green says CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas will be gametime decisions tonight.
Larry Nance is out. – 5:19 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas are game-time decisions, Willie Green says. – 5:18 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
New Orleans coach Willie Green said Brandon Ingram more than likely to play and CJ and Jonas game time decisions – 5:18 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Pelicans coach Willie Green said this of Brandon Ingram, who has been out for a couple weeks with a hamstring strain, but is listed as probable: “More than likely, we think he will (play).”
CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas are both true game-time decisions, he added. – 5:17 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Willie Green injury updates:
– Brandon Ingram “likely” to go. Will be on some sort of minutes restrictions.
– CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas are both game-time decisions. – 5:17 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Pelicans coach Willie Green says it’s “more than likely” Brandon Ingram will play today against the Lakers. He will be on a minutes restriction. – 5:16 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Willie Green says “it’s more than likely” Brandon Ingram will play tonight as Pelicans host the Lakers – 5:16 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Watch Live: Willie Green
#Pelicans | @Verizon twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 5:16 PM Zac Boyer @ZacBoyer
Kansas’ Bill Self: “We need about four days off, but we can’t wait to get to New Orleans.” #kubball – 5:16 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Welcome to New Orleans 🎺 pic.twitter.com/WYnsPUQZ06 – 5:12 PM Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Willy Hernangomez is wearing Real Betis’ jersey ahead of the big time game against the Lakers. He and Kristaps Porzingis are big Betis fans! #WBD #BetisAle pic.twitter.com/YYTTrA2yur – 4:34 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
beautiful day for some basketball 🏀
#UltraDrip | @MichelobULTRA pic.twitter.com/KWNP2ZxfQW – 4:27 PM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Kansas on the verge of making the fourth straight New Orleans Final Four.
Jayhawks were here in: 1993, 2003 and 2012.
Like LSU football and national championships in NO (‘03, ‘07, ‘11, ‘19). – 4:10 PM Jason Calmes @BourbonStShots
REMINDER: If you’re going to @New Orleans Pelicans game tonight against the Lakers, wear Pels gear and you will get discounts on draft beer, soda, and more! #BlockOutTheLakers pic.twitter.com/5pOUlT6UeJ – 3:52 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
The 38 players with 100+ post scoring possessions this year, ranked by FG% (per Synergy):
1. Jokić – 62.9
2. Durant – 60.7
3. Zubac – 57.8
4. Ayton – 57.0
5. Allen – 55.6
6. T. Harris – 55.1
7. LeBron – 55.0
8. Valanciunas – 54.0
9. Sengun – 53.0
10. KAT – 52.7 – 3:49 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Get all access to LeBron’s latest history making performance, only on @SpectrumSN right after tonight’s game. pic.twitter.com/QyFB2gAkc9 – 3:30 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Don’t forget to wear your Pelicans branded attire to today’s game!
Those who do will receive thundersticks while also enjoying discounted concessions on beer, soda and snacks.
But let’s be real, drowning out all the Lakers gear inside The Blender will be a reward in itself. 😉 – 3:30 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
The NBA’s L2M Report determined that there wasn’t a foul on Jose Alvarado’s final shot in last night’s loss to the Spurs.
It did come back with 2 incorrect non-calls, though — one on the Pels, one on the Spurs. pic.twitter.com/WMcMde2uAZ – 3:22 PM Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Lakers winning today? – 3:19 PM Krishna Narsu @knarsu3
On the line tonight:
-Wolves need to win to stay out of the play-in.
-Celtics could move up to the 1 seed.
-Sixers could stay in the 1 seed.
-Pelicans can clinch tiebreaker on the Lakers and move into HCA for play-in.
-Hornets could clinch tiebreaker on Nets and move up to 8 – 3:16 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Big game energy! Here’s @ErinESummers with the rundown for Lakers at Pelicans 6p 🏀 pic.twitter.com/dcddcp99M4 – 3:12 PM John Schuhmann @johnschuhmann
Random note w/ the Hornets (rested) having a rest advantage against the Nets (2nd of a b2b) tonight…
Biggest difference, winning %, rested vs. not rested…
1. Brooklyn: 37-25, 2-10
2. Charlotte: 37-24, 1-12
3. Miami: 43-19, 4-9
4. Utah: 41-21, 4-8
5. New Orleans: 29-32, 2-11 – 3:07 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Parking reminder:
We encourage fans to get to the @SmoothieKingCtr early tonight to park pic.twitter.com/Opw1UNBoVc – 2:10 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Road trip ready.
: 4:00 p.m. PT
📺: @SpectrumSN
📻: ESPN LA 710 & 1330 KWKW
#LakeShow x @SociosUSA on.nba.com/3IJR8Ij – 2:05 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Well… Brandon Ingram likely back. However…
CJ McCollum (left ankle sprain) and Jonas Valanciunas (right foot soreness) are both l questionable
Larry Nance Jr. (right knee arthroscopy) is doubtful on a back-to-back. – 1:47 PM Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
Russell Westbrook can scratch off a potential new #NBA home next offseason.
#LakeShow #Lakers
sportscasting.com/russell-westbr… – 1:46 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
CJ McCollum (left ankle sprain) and Jonas Valanciunas (right foot soreness) have also been listed as questionable for tonight’s game vs the Lakers.
Larry Nance Jr is doubtful with the Pels on the second night of a back-to-back. – 1:45 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Brandon Ingram upgraded to probable on Sunday’s #Pelicans injury list, but CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, Larry Nance Jr. added to official report ahead of key game vs. Lakers. Injury report via @MorrisBartLLC: https://t.co/Fmy0fiyO9L pic.twitter.com/ihEeHPwaFp – 1:44 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Updates on Ingram, McCollum, Valanciunas and Nance Jr. in today’s Injury Report
#Pelicans | @MorrisBartLLC
nba.com/pelicans/news/… – 1:43 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Brandon Ingram listed as probable for today’s game against the Lakers. On track to play after missing 10 straight. New Orleans went 4-6 in that stretch. – 1:35 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Brandon Ingram has been upgraded to PROBABLE for tonight’s game vs the Lakers, per the Pelicans – 1:34 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Brandon Ingram is probable for tonight’s game vs the Lakers pic.twitter.com/iBHnSc4ptH – 1:34 PM