Lakers were able to go wire-to-wire for a 110-98 win over the Pelicans to close the regular season.
Notes:
- LeBron James had 25 points, going 11-12 overall and 2-5 from 3. LeBron added 6 assists and 3 steals.
- Anthony Davis had 14 points and 5 rebounds.
- Dennis Schröder scored 12 points in the game after a hot start and added 3 rebounds and 4 assists.
- Andre Drummond had 13 points on 6-11 shooting along with 13 rebounds, including 5 offensive boards.
- Wesley Matthews was a spark off the bench with 8 points on 2-5 from 3.
- Kyle Kuzma with 8 points on 3-5 shooting and had 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 6 assists to go along with his 10 points on 4-8 shooting.
- Both teams ended the game shooting 47% overall. Lakers shot 31% from 3 to 36% for the Pelicans.
- Turnovers were a key part of the game with 9 for the Lakers to 21 for the Pelicans. Points off of turnovers was 23 for the Lakers to 9 for the Pelicans.
- Lakers had 30 assists as a team, including 6 for LeBron and KCP, 5 for Caruso, and 4 for Schröder and Gasol.
- 1st Quarter: Lakers open a 19-14 lead halfway through the 1st quarter behind 10 early points by Dennis Schröder on 4-4 shooting. Lakers shooting 73% overall as a team to 46% for the Pelicans. Lakers continue to score throughout the quarter, leading by as much as 12. They close the quarter up 36-28. Shooting as a team for the quarter is 60%, with KCP shooting 3-3 along with Schröder's 4-4. Lakers are 4-6 from 3. Pelicans up to 55% shooting and 3-5 from 3. Lakers have 0 turnovers in the quarter.
- 2nd Quarter: Lakers keep the lead around 10 points through the first half of the 2nd quarter. Both teams' shooting has cooled, 40% for the Lakers and 50% for the Pelicans in the quarter. The Lakers are 3-7 from 3 for the quarter. Pelicans make a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 52-48, as the Lakers stay cold from the field. Lakers look to have rebuilt a 7 point lead, but the Pelicans sink a heave at the buzzer and the Lakers lead at the half is 63-59. Lakers have 5 turnovers in the quarter and shoot 42% to the Pelicans 50%.
- 3rd Quarter: It's a one to two possession game through the early stretch of the 3rd quarter. Lakers shooting on 37% in the quarter, but hold a 80-73 lead. Pelicans up to 16 turnovers in the game. A 17-3 run to end the quarter takes the Lakers lead to 91-76. That run takes the Lakers overall shooting to 46% for the quarter to 38% for the Pelicans. Turnover differential for the game is the story. The Lakers have 6 to the Pelicans 17.
- 4th Quarter: Lakers' lead is briefly cut down to single digits, but otherwise the lead stays >10 through the first part of the quarter. Lakers shooting 38% to Pelicans 43% in the quarter, but are able to hold on and then empty the bench down the stretch, including the return of Jared Dudley after rehabbing his knee injury. Lakers win 110-98.
- Starters: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dennis Schröder.
Previous meetings:
Lakers lost 111-128 on 3/23/21 - Game Coverage
Lakers won 112-95 on 1/15/21 - Game Coverage