Lakers Bounce Back and Beat the Pelicans for Their Second Cup Win

The Lakers controlled the game against the New Orleans Pelicans from the beginning, winning by 12. They maintained a comfortable lead throughout. This was very impressive because of the absence of LeBron James; his sciatica was still keeping him out. The trio of Austin Reaves, Luka Dončić, and Deandre Ayton finally played how many fans, including myself, were hoping. Ayton would score 20 points and really dominate the paint. It was by far his best game as a Laker. Also, Austin Reaves did his usual thing and led the team with 31 points. Making most of them from driving in the paint and from three. Luka Dončić had an efficient 24 points and 12 assists. He struggled against the Thunder but not against the Pelicans’ defense. 

A Key Win for the NBA Emirates Cup Tournament

The Lakers asserted their dominance with a run in the third quarter, increasing their lead to 22 heading into the fourth. This stretch featured scoring contributions from all three of their star players, effectively putting the game out of reach, despite a late rally from the Pelicans. This victory was crucial, as it came on the heels of their worst loss of the season, a defeat to the Thunder. This demonstrated to me the team's resilience in bouncing back during a tough road trip. Another reason why this victory was huge was that we are about a month away from the final, and it keeps the Lakers in contention to win the NBA Cup. 

What This Means for the Pelicans

For the Pelicans, it was a showing of why they need to rebuild more. The loss extended the Pelicans' overall losing streak and dropped their NBA Cup record to two losses and no wins. At this rate, in my opinion, the Pelicans should move new pieces around and think about how to best reload their roster in the years to come. The team was also missing key players Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray. This ended up playing a key role in their loss as it diminished their competitiveness. However, a positive note for New Orleans was Trey Murphy III, who scored a game-high 35 points. Despite his impressive performance, the team was unable to close the gap against the Lakers' consistent offense. Ultimately, the Lakers secured a decisive road victory as the shorthanded Pelicans struggled to contain the Lakers' offense from the beginning. The Pelicans continue to deal with a rough start to their season.