Still going strong! LeBron James nearly records a triple-double, Doncic scores 30, Murphy shines with 42 points, Lakers defeat Pelicans for their third consecutive win

On January 7th, Beijing time, during the NBA regular season, the Pelicans faced the Lakers at home. The two teams were evenly matched through the first half, with the Pelicans excelling in the third quarter. However, the Lakers staged a comeback in the fourth quarter with multiple scoring runs. Doncic struggled with his shooting, but LeBron James, still dominant, nearly achieved a triple-double. The Lakers prevailed 111-103, marking their third consecutive win and extending the Pelicans’ losing streak to eight games.

Statistical summary:

Lakers: LeBron James 30 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals; Doncic 30 points, 10 assists; Ayton 18 points, 11 rebounds; Smart 13 points

Pelicans: Murphy 42 points; Zion 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists; Quinn 10 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists; Fills 9 points

Game progression

At the start of the first quarter, Ayton scored back-to-back dunks for 4 points, but the Pelicans responded with an 8-2 run to take the lead. LeBron James answered strongly with a three-pointer. The teams then entered a tug-of-war phase; Doncic completed a and-one play to give the Lakers a 5-point lead, while Jones stabilized the Pelicans with a three-pointer. The Lakers scored consecutively to extend their lead to 6 points again. In the last 3 minutes of the quarter, both teams struggled with their shooting, but the Pelicans narrowed the gap with a dunk by Matkovich. The quarter ended with the Lakers leading 29-25.

In the second quarter, Knecht hit a three-pointer to widen the gap, but the Pelicans answered with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to just 2 points. LeBron James drew a foul and made both free throws to stop the bleeding, and Doncic hit a floater prompting a timeout from the Pelicans. After the break, the Pelicans launched a fierce offensive, steadily chipping away at the Lakers’ lead. Vanderbilt’s dunk stopped the run briefly, but the Pelicans scored 4 straight points to tie the game at 44. Late in the quarter, the Pelicans suddenly surged with a 6-2 run to take the lead. At halftime, the Pelicans led 54-51, ahead by 3 points.

The third quarter began with the Pelicans taking control, expanding their lead to 7 points within 2 minutes. Doncic hit a three-pointer to close the gap, but Zion responded with a floater. The Lakers regained their rhythm, launching a 9-2 run to retake the lead. Murphy’s contested three-pointer put the Pelicans back ahead. The game then became tightly contested, with the Pelicans slowly pulling away. Murphy hit another three, and Matkovich made two free throws, pushing the Pelicans’ lead to 9 points. LeBron James made a three-point play to cut the deficit, but Murphy answered strongly with a and-one. The third quarter ended with the Pelicans leading 86-79 by 7 points.

In the final quarter, the Lakers exploded with a 9-0 run to instantly take the lead. Quinn’s mid-range jumper finally stopped the run. The Lakers then went on another 9-2 run to build a 7-point advantage. Murphy made consecutive free throws trying to stop the momentum, but Doncic nailed a clutch three-pointer. Alvarado responded with a three, and LeBron James scored on a layup. Doncic hit another difficult three-pointer, nearly sealing the game. The Pelicans were unable to recover, and the game ended with the Lakers winning 111-103.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Lakers: LeBron James, LaRavia, Ayton, Smart, Doncic

Pelicans: Murphy, Zion, Quinn, Jones, Fills