Two days after finding their “defensive mojo” in a huge win over Houston, the Lakers saw their defense regress and cost them a shot at gaining ground in the playoff race.
Even with superstar Anthony Davis resting for the game, New Orleans had no trouble filling the bucket against the Lakers, scorching its way to a 128-115 win.
“They got everything they wanted,” Brandon Ingram said. “They were comfortable from the beginning. They got into a rhythm.”
The Lakers (29-30) started the game in fiery fashion, making 12 of their first 13 shots from the field. Yet while they hung up 35 points in the first quarter, their defense had already begun its freefall, as the Pelicans (27-34) scored 42.
That set the tone for the night, as the Lakers played from behind for the majority of the game despite humming along offensively.
Ingram led the team with 29 points, attacking the rim seemingly at will while also hitting three 3-pointers.
Meanwhile, LeBron James had himself an all-around performance with 27 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and four steals. James bullied the Pelicans with his post game and hit three triples from well beyond the arc. But his mind was solely on the final result at the end of the day.
“I would never get comfortable with losing,” James said. “Losing game one to [Portland] feels the same way as losing game 59 in New Orleans for me. That’s just how I’m built. That’s who I am.”
Although Ingram and James both lifted the Lakers’ offense, they also contributed to the team’s 23 turnovers, which New Orleans gladly turned into points of its own.
Jrue Holiday led the home team with 27 points and five triples. Former Laker Julius Randle muscled his way to 24 points. Cheick Diallo hit all eight of his shots en route to an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.
And while Kyle Kuzma gave the Lakers 16 points, eight rebounds and a career-high seven assists, he echoed his teammates’ disappointment in the defense.
“We had no sense of urgency,” Kuzma said. “Weren’t together … more so defensively. We got whatever we wanted offensively. Just didn’t bring it [defensively].”
Notes
LeBron tied Andre Miller for the 10th-most assists in NBA history (8,512). … The Lakers shot 54.3 percent from the field. … With 23 games left, the Lakers are now 3 1/2 games out of eighth place in the Western Conference.