NBA

New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers

· National Basketball Association
19-44, 8-23 Away
Final
101 - 110

37-24, 18-12 Home

Luka Doncic scores 27 points as the Lakers rally past the Pelicans, 110-101

Marcus Smart and LeBron James connect on a ridiculous dunk

Deandre Ayton had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who overcame a fourth-quarter deficit and 21 turnovers by scoring 14 straight points down the stretch and finishing on a 24-7 run. Their late surge was led by Doncic and by Austin Reaves, who missed his first eight shots of the night before ending up with 15 points.

Zion Williamson scored 24 points in his return from a one-game absence after hurting his ankle last Saturday for the Pelicans, who lost for only the second time in six games on the fourth outing of their six-game West Coast trip. Trey Murphy III scored 21 points and Saddiq Bey had 18.

New Orleans jumped to an eight-point lead with just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers finally awoke and held the Pelicans scoreless over the next 4:18.

Reaves hit a 3-pointer with 5:04 left to put LA back ahead 96-94, and Marcus Smart and Doncic hit clutch 3s in the final two minutes to seal it. Smart had 10 points, seven assists, four steals and three blocked shots in an impressive performance.

James had seven rebounds and seven assists. He also went 8 of 12 from the field to move within two baskets of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who holds the NBA's career record for field goals at 15,837.

Doncic received his 14th technical foul of the season in the second quarter, and he wasn't whistled for a second despite clapping at a referee to protest a no-call in the final minutes. He'll be suspended if he gets a 16th T.

Up next Pelicans: At Sacramento on Thursday night.

Lakers: At Denver on Thursday night.

Regular Season Series

LAL win series 4-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 101 - 110
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 101 - 110
4th 0.5 shot clock turnover 101 - 110
4th 21.0 Luka Doncic defensive rebound 101 - 110
4th 24.7 Marcus Smart blocks Trey Murphy III 's 7-foot driving floating jump shot 101 - 110

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/no.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originNO https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/lal.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLAL
38-90 FG 39-83
42 Field Goal % 47
8-29 3PT 11-37
28 Three Point % 30
17-19 FT 21-26
89 Free Throw % 81
41 Rebounds 48
10 Offensive Rebounds 11
31 Defensive Rebounds 37
29 Assists 29
12 Steals 7
3 Blocks 12
18 Turnovers 21
1 Team Turnovers 1
19 Total Turnovers 22
1 Technical Fouls 3
1 Total Technical Fouls 3
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
29 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 21
18 Fast Break Points 28
60 Points in Paint 50
24 Fouls 17
8 Largest Lead 10
18 Lead Changes 18
38 Percent Led 56
Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
LeBron James, F Out Mar 9
New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans Pelicans Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE

Game Information

crypto.com Arena

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Attendance: 18,248 · Capacity:

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
San Antonio 47 17 .734 - W4
Houston 39 24 .619 7.5 L1
Memphis 23 40 .365 23.5 L4
Dallas 21 43 .328 26 L7
New Orleans 21 45 .318 27 W1

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
LA Lakers 39 25 .609 - W2
Phoenix 37 27 .578 2 W2
LA Clippers 32 32 .500 7 W2
Golden State 32 32 .500 7 L2
Sacramento 15 50 .231 24.5 W1
Full Standings

NBA News

Steve Kerr: Playing 10 fewer games a season would improve league

Steve Kerr: Playing 10 fewer games a season would improve league

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Monday that the NBA would be better off if it shaved games off its 82-game schedule, echoing previous comments he has made about the pace of play and long season affecting its quality and competitiveness.

Stephen A. on calls to shorten NBA season: 'Can't have your cake and eat it too'

Stephen A. on calls to shorten NBA season: 'Can't have your cake and eat it too'

Stephen A. Smith responds to Steve Kerr's desire to shorten the NBA season.

Stephen A. doesn't hold back as he calls out Mikal Bridges

Stephen A. doesn't hold back as he calls out Mikal Bridges

Stephen A. Smith lets it rip at the New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges for his lack of consistency.

Stephen A.: MVP up for grabs between SGA and Jaylen Brown

Stephen A.: MVP up for grabs between SGA and Jaylen Brown

Stephen A. Smith reacts to Shai-Gilgeous Alexander's performance Monday night and explains why SGA has more to prove to secure the MVP award.

How the schedule could impact three key NBA playoff races

How the schedule could impact three key NBA playoff races

With so many teams tanking, some playoff-bound teams could capitalize on easy schedules down the stretch.