Lakers Win 3rd Straight Over Zion Williamson Pesky Pelicans

Written By Malcolm Xavier of The Lakers Room

If you're looking for good news as a fanatic of the purple and gold, the Lakers come in on a two game winning streak. The weakest two game winning streak possibly ever, and I mean that wholeheartedly. We might've got stiffer competition from Duke (kidding). LA comes in tonight facing another terrible team in the 19-43 New Orleans Pelicans as it looks to extend the somewhat mediocre win streak in a televised sparring match that they come in eight point favorites. The even better news is that no matter who you play, a win is a win. So no matter how poverty stricken our current momentum may inevitably be viewed in the near future when we face a gauntlet of a schedule that will either expose us for good or vault this current iteration of the Lakers on a playoff run, (with the former probably being the more likely outcome) this winning streak is just the welcoming bridge we need to start the stretch run. Which due to scheduling switches from a sparring match to a fight with Bud Crawford. Buckle up, but before we possibly get knocked out let's take care of the Pelicans who now have Zion Williamson available.

1st Quarter

Luka started with a stepback three over Dejounte Murray, immediately matched from deep by Trey Murphy on a lackluster defensive possesion to start. Ayton hit a jump hook early - hopefully a good sign. Shortly after gave up a dunk to Siddiq Bey going to the rim, no contest. LeBron layup, plus reaves at the line give Lakers early lead. LeBron hits an early three to put the Lakers up 12-8 with 7:17 remaining. New Orleans 8-0 run capped by a Troy Murphy three and hammer down the lane give the Pelicans the early lead 16-12, timeout Lakers. Out of timeout the Pelicans look like the better team early. Trey Murphy motivated hits another three, Zion connected on a lob that almost hit the celing to put the Pelicans up 20-14. Jaxson Hayes scored down low plus a ridiculous one hand 18 foot Luka and one to get the score back to 20-19. LA had a rough quarter defensively giving up another Trey Murphy dunk and a layup to Deandre Jordan. Jordan also scored on an alley oop. Jake Laravia connected on a three, but so did Jeremiah Fears who also scored down low, New Orleans seemed unstoppable in the paint and led 33-31 after one.

2nd Quarter

LA started the second on an 11-4 run to go up 42-35, LeBron converted on a dunk after slipping on a fast break that ended up an and one, you'll see the highlight. Deandre Ayton also scored on an alley running the floor or a James dish that cause the Pels to call a timeout. He was subbed out for Jaxson Hayes during that break. Siddiq Bey scored on a layup before Jaxson Hayes converted his own bucket in the paint followed by a Luka three that hit all net to put the Lakers up double digits 47-37. Dejounte Murray scored a layup and one to bring the lead back to seven which triggered an LA timeout. New Orleans followed with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 47-44 on a Yves Missi alley oop. They had a chance to cut it further but Trey Murphy picked up his third foul on an offenive drawn by Marcus Smart. Luka then found Ayton down low before Ayton found Luka in return for his own laup to push the lead back to 51-44 and cause another Pels timeout. Bey and Williamson scored after the break to make the score 51-48. Luka was fouled and made 1 of 2 to push the Lead back to four but was assessed a tech after his foul for complaining about a lane violation. Bey made the free throw and Williamson scored to bring the lead back to 52-51, Luka scored on a 16 footer to make it 54-51 and thats where the first half ended. New Orleans has 32 points in the paint already.

Third Quarter

Williamson started the second halfscoring with a layup, before a Marcus Smart three jump started an 11-3 run for the Lakers which included ferocious Ayton slam off a Luka Doncic lob and was capped by an even more ground shaking LeBron James throwback tomahawk. Timeout Pelicans, Lakers up 63-56. Zion Williamson scored an easy layup to go with a turnover on a steal from Bey on a lazy pass which led to a breakaway dunk to close the gap to 63-60. LeBron ran over Zion and they called a foul on Zion which cause a technical foul that a struggling 0 for Austin Reaves connected on. New Orleans went on a 5-0 on a Saddiq Bey three and a Trey Murphy dunk off the 17th Lakers turnover. Timeout Lakers, Pelicans now up 65-64. LA turned the ball over again out of the break for number 18.

New Orleans followed up with a 10-6 run all points in the paint and free throw line. Austin Reaves scored his first two field goals in the run to make it 75-70 Pels. Luke Kennard tied the game at 75 on a three that now seems automatic after two Rui free throws. Deandre Jordan scored down low after a Murphy techincal free throw to keep New Orleans slightly ahead 78-75, another techincal this time called on Murphy gave the Lakers one bonus point and the quarter ended with LA trailing 78-76.

4th Quarter

LaRavia started the fourth with a layup, followd by 1 of 2 at the line to put LA back up 79-78. New Orleans responded with an 13-7 run immediately capped by anotehr techcical called on Deandre Ayton and four free throws from Williamson and Bey (one a piece) along with a pair from McGowan, Williams added a layup and one to put the Pels up 94-86 the biggest lead for them of the night with 7:19 remaining in the game. LA followed with a massive 7-0 run in the next minute in a half a dunk from Hayes a corner three from Reaves and two free throws from Smart on a foul drawn fro mBryce McGowens. Reaves took the lead back with another three to put LA up 96-94 and a Luka turnaround made it 12-0 to put the Lakers up 98-94 and cause a Pelicans timeout with all the momentum shifted back to the Lakeshow. LeBron scored again to make it 100-94 before two Zion Williamson layups, the second a possible offensive foul where he went clear through Jaxson Hayes to close the score to 100-98. Luka was fouled by Murray on a shot on the next foul an hit both at the line to get in back to 102-98 with two minutes to go. Marcus Smart hit the possible dagger 30 seconds later with 1:34 to go to put the Lakers up 105-98 and cause another Pels timeout after the big shot. Luka hit one more dagger of his own from three for good measure and the Lakers survived a real threat 110-101, funny the line was -8.5 I believe.