The Los Angeles Lakers were dominated in the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans and lost 109-102.
This was a close, back-and-forth game in the first half, but the Pelicans used hot shooting in the second half to pull away from a struggling Lakers team. The Pelicans actually jumped out to an early start, leading by seven points more than halfway through quarter number one, but Kobe Bryant brought the Lakers back in a hurry with three straight triples.
Thanks to Kobe’s hot shooting, the Lakers were able to obtain a two-point first quarter lead. The Lakers remained composed and hung around in the second quarter as well. However, the Pelicans finished the first half on a 10-2 run to take a three-point lead into intermission.
The Pelicans came out firing in the second half. Everyone contributed as they took a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter and created separation from that point on.
Anthony Davis’s presence was definitely felt. He put up another monster stat line with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks. His defensive energy and the hot shooting for his team is what helped the Pelicans capture a 13-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans put the Lakers away early in the fourth quarter with back-to-back threes by Austin Rivers and Ryan Anderson. Suddenly, the lead ballooned to 19. The game got completely out of hand when Ronnie Price committed a flagrant two foul on Austin Rivers. Price was ejected, and the Pelicans were rewarded with two costless throws and the ball.
Things just got ugly from there. At least during garbage time, the Lakers cut the Pelicans lead to seven to make the game look closer than it was.
The Lakers thin bench struggled again, only scoring 18 points compared to the Pelicans’ 34 bench points. Ryan Anderson had half those points as he scored 17 on 3-for-7 shooting from three-point distance to go along with eight boards.
The Lakers starters all scored in double digits for a second straight night, but they were not as efficient in this game. Kobe Bryant led the charge with 33 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Carlos Boozer put in 16 points and six rebounds. Jeremy Lin chipped in with 15 points, four assists, and four rebounds as Wesley Johnson and Jordan Hill scored 10 apiece.
Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday were the other two to score double figures for the Pelicans. Evans dropped in 19 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds, while Holiday had 17 points and five assists.
The Lakers’ only advantage came at the costless throw line. They lost the battle in almost every other category. The Pelicans shot 54.9 percent as opposed to the Lakers’ 41.7 percent. The Pelicans also out-rebounded the Lakers 44-38 and moved the ball around better, recording 27 assists to Los Angeles’ 15.
The Lakers played mediocre defense once again and despite it being the second of a back-to-back, there still should have been no excuse for the Lakers to give up wide open threes and easy lay ups.
The Lakers drop to 1-7 on the season, and things don’t get easy. They will clash against the defending champions San Antonio Spurs next on Friday, November 14. The Pelicans, meanwhile, improve to 4-3 and will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday as well.