LOS ANGELES, California − Whenever the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans are on the same court, the comparisons made between LeBron James and Zion Williamson are bound to make the game feel as though it is a one-on-one matchup.
LeBron and Zion played well, but the Lakers’ depth made the difference in this matchup as Los Angeles (11-3) came back from a 15-point deficit in the first quarter to defeat New Orleans (4-7), 112-95.
The fifth straight win for the Lakers puts them firmly in first place in the Western Conference, with a game and a half lead on the LA Clippers. New Orleans drops to fourteenth in the West with their fifth straight loss.
LeBron shakes off a slow start thanks to the help of the Lakers bench
New Orleans started the game off strong, building a 15-point lead thanks to strong defense to keep LeBron and Anthony Davis contained.
However, New Orleans was never able to pull away thanks to the strong showing from the Lakers off the bench. Montrezl Harrell (14 points) and Kyle Kuzma (13 points) were among the 6 Lakers who finished with double figures. Kuzma’s strong shooting from three (3/4) was critical to keeping the Lakers in the game early.
LeBron was able to shake off the slow start and help lead the Lakers to secure the double-digit win. He finished the game with 21 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds.
Despite a poor shooting performance, Davis made his impact felt, especially on the defensive end. He finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
Even though LeBron has showed no signs of slowing down, the Lakers’ depth will play a vital role in the Laker’s attempt to repeat as NBA champions. Games like this are important, as 10 different players played 10+ minutes, allowing LeBron and AD to cut down on their minutes.
Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson perform well in loss
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram always has something extra to play for when going against the Lakers. He was a significant piece in the trade that sent Anthony Davis to LA and has since blossomed into a star player himself.
The first-quarter lead was built in large part by Ingram. His length allowed him to be efficient in the post, especially against the smaller wing players LA had guarding him. He finished with 20 points on 9/15 shooting.
Zion Williamson was the leading scorer for the Pelicans and finished with a double-double. He scored 21 and grabbed 12 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Pelicans vs. Kings, Sunday, January 17, 9:00 PM ET
Lakers vs. Warriors, Monday, January 18, 10:00 PM ET on TNT
