Lakers wrap up December with four straight wins
Anthony Davis comes up huge again for Lakers against former team
Recap of Lakers/Pelicans game played on December 31, 2023
1st Quarter
The first meeting of the season between the Lakers and Pelicans, both teams potentially playoff bound and the Lakers coming in with a three-game winning streak while the Pelicans have lost three of their last five after winning four straight. The Pelicans took an early lead when Jonas Valanciunas knocked down a three-pointer to start the game, but the Lakers took the lead 4-3 on a Taurean Prince three-pointer. The Lakers led by as many as four until Zion Williamson scored on a layup to tie the game up 20-20. The Lakers pushed their lead to seven points, 35-28 before taking a 37-34 lead at the end of the quarter.
2nd Quarter
The Lakers extended their lead to ten on a layup by Austin Reaves, 45-35, but the Pelicans answered with a 12-4 run, cutting the Lakers lead to two, 49-47. Later on in the quarter LeBron James knocked down a three-pointer, giving the Lakers their biggest lead of the half, eleven points, 60-49. James would hit another three-pointer to push the Lakers lead back to eleven, 65-54, but Brandon Ingram dunk at the end of the quarter, brought the Lakers lead back to single digits, 65-56 heading into halftime.
3rd Quarter
Zion Williamson scored six of the first eight points in the second half bringing the Lakers lead down to five points, 67-62, but back-to-back layups by LeBron James gave the Lakers twelve-point lead, 78-66 and eventually the Lakers pushed that lead up to eighteen, 84-66. The Pelicans would end the third quarter on a big 14-2 run, cutting the Lakers lead down six, 86-80 heading into the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter
After the Pelicans began the quarter knocking down a three-pointer, the Lakers answered back with consecutive three-point shots by Jalen Hood-Schifino and LeBron James. Anthony Davis hit a jumpshot that gave the Lakers a nine-point lead, 94-85 but the Pelicans cut that lead back down to three, 94-91, scoring six straight. Jose Alvarado hit a three-pointer, cutting the Lakers lead again to three, 97-94 and then minutes later Alvarado hit another three-pointer, bringing the Pelicans to within two points, 101-99. A three-point play by Brandon Ingram on the Pelicans next possession gave them their first lead since early in the first quarter, 102-101. The two teams traded baskets but the Pelicans went up by three points after a Jonas Valanciunas dunk, 108-105. Anthony Davis was fouled on a three-point attempt and went to the free throw line, hitting all three free throws to tie the game 108-108. Christian Wood's slam dunk gave the Lakers a 110-108 lead and they would go on to hit seven of eight free throws down in the final minute to come away with a 117-112 victory.
 |
@ |  |
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Los Angeles Lakers |
37 |
28 |
21 |
31 |
117 |
| New Orleans Pelicans |
34 |
22 |
24 |
32 |
112 |
Los Angeles Lakers Player Stats
Anthony Davis - 32 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks
LeBron James - 23 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 block
Austin Reaves - 20 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Taurean Prince - 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Christian Wood - 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block
Jarred Vanderbilt - 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
New Orleans Pelicans Player Stats
Brandon Ingram - 29 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Zion Williamson - 26 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal
Jonas Valanciunas - 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
C.J. McCollum - 12 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Upcoming Schedule
1/3/24: vs. Miami Heat
1/5/24: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
1/7/24: vs. LA Clippers
1/9/24: vs. Toronto Raptors
1/11/24: vs. Phoenix Suns
Hachimura scores the early layup
Davis pulls up for the jumper
Prince knocks down the open three
Davis with the offensive rebound and putback
