> At a Glance
> – LeBron James and Luka Doncic each drop 30 as Lakers top Pelicans 111-103
> – Trey Murphy erupts for career-high 41 in losing effort
> – Lakers win 4th in 5 games; Pelicans suffer 8th straight loss
> – Why it matters: Playoff positioning tightens as Lakers climb while Pelicans’ skid deepens
LeBron James and Luka Doncic combined for 60 points to lead the Lakers past the reeling Pelicans 111-103, extending New Orleans’ losing streak to eight games despite Trey Murphy’s career night.
Late-Game Surge Seals Win
Los Angeles trailed by nine late in the third before unleashing an 18-4 burst to open the fourth. The run featured two deep James triples, a Dalton Knecht three, and two Deandre Ayton interior scores, flipping a 90-86 deficit into a 97-90 lead the Lakers never relinquished.
- James scored 30 on efficient shooting
- Doncic finished with 30 points and 10 assists
- Ayton added 18 points and 11 rebounds
Murphy’s Career Night Not Enough
Trey Murphy set a personal best with 41 points, including 20 in the third quarter, but received limited support. Zion Williamson managed 15 points while rookie Derik Queen chipped in 10 points and 13 rebounds.
| Team | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | 50.6 (43-85) | – | – |
| Pelicans | 44.0 (40-91) | 25.0 (10-40) | 72.2 (13-18) |
New Orleans missed five free throws, with Williamson accounting for four of those, and shot just 10-of-40 from beyond the arc.
Key Takeaways
- Lakers move to 4-1 in their last five, tightening the Western Conference race
- Pelicans’ eight-game slide continues, putting postseason hopes at risk
- Herb Jones returned from a seven-game ankle injury but shot 1-of-9
Both teams return to action Wednesday: the Lakers visit San Antonio while the Pelicans travel to Atlanta.
