The Lakers continue to slowly climb the slope. After their victory against the Nuggets, they continue with a second success in a row, almost miraculous this time, against the Pelicans (120-117) who were playing without Brandon Ingram. The latter, after being dominated for a good part of the meeting, lacked the juice to conclude.
From the first period, in addition to the general poverty of the game displayed in the first part of the second quarter, we will remember the good sequences of circulation of the ball on the Lakers side, who were led after twelve minutes (23-27). With, most often, Russell Westbrook, still convincing off the bench, at the origin of the game.
Many “extra-passes” allowed the locals to get better shots from behind the arc and to improve their address. NOLA remained three long minutes without scoring while the Lakers went 12-0 to join the locker room in confidence (56-44).
The locals recovered well after the break to offer themselves up to 16 points ahead (60-44). But with Zion Williamson’s interior activity and Jose Alvarado’s plague vice shots, the Pelicans will hang on to go 13-0, briefly regain the lead, then finish within two possessions at the end of the third quarter. -time (84-79). The visitors continued their efforts to pick up in the final period, transformed into a super tight match despite a 5th foul collected by Zion Williamson.
The latter will return two minutes from the end to score four points in a row and restore a point lead to his team (108-109). LeBron James attempted to respond with a complicated, failed turnaround that opened the way for a solo dunk from Larry Nance Jr. on the counterattack seconds from time. Lonnie Walker IV missing a first shot of the equalizer, Dyson Daniels should have closed the debates on free throws. He didn’t, giving the Lakers one last chance with 1.4 seconds left. And it was the unlikely Matt Ryan who saved Los Angeles at the buzzer.
In overtime, the Pelicans ran out of juice as Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker IV and LeBron James took care of the finish.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Pelicans can bite their fingers. Dominated in the first period, the visitors signed a very solid second half with 67 points scored. But they sometimes lacked lucidity in the “money time”. Beyond the terrible double miss of Dyson Daniels on free throws, we think back to these rebounds which were not secured after several missed throws from LeBron James, opening up new possessions for the Lakers. Not to mention the missed finishes near the circle by the Williamson – McCollum duo in overtime.
– Darvin Ham’s rotations. Russell Westbrook’s experience off the bench was once again conclusive as the point guard animated the Lakers’ offensive game, especially in the second quarter. The coach still made the choice to do without him in the last three minutes, then in overtime, to favor the efforts of Patrick Beverley, yet silent in attack, and put the ball back in the hands of LeBron James. Above all, on the very last possession of regulation time, he made the choice to bet on Matt Ryan rather than Lonnie Walker IV who had just missed a shot. A paying bet when the hero of the evening had sometimes turned on too much.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Lonnie Walker IV. Who would have imagined him becoming the team’s third offensive option? Last night, he took control of the attack by signing a high-level fourth quarter. Height of several authoritarian dunks on the counterattack, he let the game come to him to sanction 3-pointers. It is changing dimensions in Los Angeles.
✅ Zion Williamson. A strong match, like him, statistically. Awkward off the racket, he kept attacking on his left hand LeBron James and Anthony Davis who sometimes managed to contain him a little. Despite his foul concerns, he finished top scorer in his squad with more efficiency than CJ McCollum.
✅ ⛔ LeBron James. Not far from the triple-double, the “King” questioned by the choice of his shots in the last moments. Like that complicated baseline turnaround 12 seconds from the end or that really bad shot taken a minute earlier from nine yards out. While he explained that he had been sick since Sunday, he clearly abused this long distance shot and failed to get closer to the circle. The proof, he only shot his first free throws three minutes from time.
⛔ Jonas Valanciunas. A failed match, however, ended very close to the double-double. Faced with a very active Anthony Davis in defense (who countered the Lithuanian but also Zion Williamson), the pivot struggled to shoot effectively, especially on the periphery. Result: Willie Green did without him throughout the fourth quarter and overtime to trust a still very useful Larry Nance Jr.
THE FOLLOWING
Lakers (2-5) : Jazz reception, Friday.
Pelicans (4-3) : reception of the Warriors, Friday.
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