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Pelicans 104, Lakers 87
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOS ANGELES — Forward Anthony Davis scored 23 points, and point guard Jrue Holiday added 22 points and eight assists, guiding the New Orleans Pelicans to a 104-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Sunday night.
The Pelicans (9-10), who were coming off a 120-100 setback to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, snapped a two-game losing streak.
Guard Kobe Bryant scored 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting to lead six Lakers in double figures, but it didn’t prevent Los Angeles (5-16) from dropping its third in a row. Reserve guard Nick Young managed 13 points despite hitting just three of 13 shots from the floor. Forwards Ed Davis and Carlos Boozer had 12 points apiece.
Lakers coach Byron Scott benched point guard Jeremy Lin and power forward Boozer and started guard Ronnie Price and Davis, hoping to change’s the team’s fortunes. It mattered little, though, as Los Angeles fell to 2-9 at home.
Holiday’s 12 points and Davis’ nine staked the Pelicans to a 50-40 halftime lead. The Lakers’ shooting woes in the first half also helped New Orleans, as Los Angeles managed just 33.3 percent (17 of 51) compared to 43.2 percent (19 of 44) for the Pelicans. Los Angeles also missed eight of nine 3-point attempts, while New Orleans made five of 13 in the first half.
Overall, the Pelicans shot 51.8 percent from the field to 40 percent for the Lakers.
The Lakers cut the Pelicans’ lead to six in the third quarter, but a strong run by New Orleans to end the period pushed the advantage back to double digits. Los Angeles got no closer than 12 the rest of the way.
After a 3-pointer by Young cut the Pelicans’ advantage to 63-57 with 4:28 remaining in the third, New Orleans went on a 16-2 run to end the quarter for a 79-59 cushion. The Pelicans outscored the Lakers 29-19 in the third.
NOTES: Lakers coach Byron Scott said it was a “no-brainer” to shake up his starting lineup Sunday. “If you look at our record, you have to make changes, at least I think you do as a coach,” Scott said. “I’m not going to stand back and watch it continue to be played this way. I want to see if we can do some other things; I want to see if these other two guys can come in and fit those roles. That’s basically what I’m looking for.” … The Pelicans host the New York Knicks on Tuesday. … The Lakers host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday before hitting the road for a three-game swing through San Antonio (Friday), Minnesota (Dec. 14) and Indiana (Dec. 15).
