NEW ORLEANS — Zion Williamson has little interest in forgetting the New Orleans Pelicans’ most embarrassing lack of the season.
Memories of the 133-89 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers within the In-Season Tournament semifinal in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 are painful, Williamson stated, however the sluggish efficiency may also have been a “blessing in disguise.”
Williamson and Brandon Ingram every scored 26 factors and the Pelicans beat the road-weary Lakers 129-109 on Sunday night time to enhance to 7-3 since leaving Las Vegas.
“It definitely brought us together more as a team,” Williamson stated. “I feel like we’ve been playing great since then. We’ve still got some things to figure out, but so does every other team.”
Los Angeles was coming off a 108-106 loss at Minnesota on Saturday night time, whereas New Orleans was off two days after beating Utah at dwelling Thursday night time.
LeBron James scored 34 factors and former Pelican Anthony Davis added 20 factors and 10 rebounds, however they didn’t get sufficient assist because the Lakers misplaced for the seventh time in 9 video games.
PHOTOS: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram every rating 26 factors, Pelicans prime Lakers 129-109
“We have to figure it out and get better, for sure,” James stated. “We’re not one team that likes to play from behind. We’ve been in that position a lot this year.
“The flight last night did not help, obviously,” added James, who performed by way of flu-like signs on Saturday and Sunday. “We didn’t get to the hotel last until 3:45 (a.m.). So, it was a rough day trying to recalibrate and get ready for the game. But I’m happy I was able to go out and just try to make some plays happen for my team.”
The Pelicans had the look of a crew in search of redemption for it’s earlier dud in opposition to the Lakers – and performed with vigor in entrance of a packed and festive New Year’s Eve crowd.
“The way we lost the game, you want to redeem yourself,” Pelicans coach Willie Green stated. “We talked about it the last coupe days and watched some film on it – as hard as it was.”
CJ McCollum added 22 factors for the Pelicans, who led by 19 factors and responded to every comeback bid with the assistance of fifty% 3-point capturing (17 of 34) as a crew and artful 6-foot guard Jose “Grand Theft” Alvarado’s 4 steals and and two blocks.
Alvarado is “one of our emotional leaders and his ability to impact this team with his energy, his effort, it was huge tonight,” Green stated. “It’s a blessing to have a guy like that on your team who can really ignite the whole building.”
It was the fourth time that New Orleans‘ “Big Three” – Williamson, Ingram and McCollum – each scored 20 or more in one game, including once last season and three times in the past month. The Pelicans are 4-0 in such games.
“Not only are they scoring, but they’re sharing the ball with one another and their teammates,” Green stated. “That’s the trust factor we have to have.”
Larry Nance Jr. had 11 factors and 10 rebounds in simply his second recreation again from a rib harm. Herb Jones and Jonas Valanciunas every scored 13 factors.
The Lakers went into the sport with out ahead Cam Reddish (adductor) and D’Angelo Russell (again), whereas the Pelicans had been with out one in every of their prime 3-point shooters in Trey Murphy III (left knee). All had been day-to-day.
Then Lakers ahead Rui Hachimura left the sport within the first half with a left calf pressure.
Despite lacking Murphy, New Orleans was on from deep. McCollum made 5 early 3s and completed with six. Jones made three 3s from the proper nook within the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Alvarado delighted the gang by choosing the pockets of each James and Davis throughout the second quarter, when New Orleans led by 19 factors.
“LeBron, that’s one of the greatest players to ever play this game and for me to be on the court, for me to get steals, for me to do anything, that’s pretty amazing,” stated Alvarado, who was undrafted out of Georgia Tech. “When I get back to watch videos when I grow old, and they say that (James) is the best player to play this game, at least I got a video of him (with me) getting a steal.”
James had 21 of his factors within the first half and Davis had 13 within the opening 24 minutes.
But the Pelicans hit 10 of 17 3s within the first two intervals, and took a 74-57 halftime lead after Ingram‘s block of Max Christie’s shot ignited a quick break completed by Nance’s layup.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host Miami on Wednesday night time to start a five-game homestand.
Pelicans: Host Brooklyn on Tuesday night time to conclude a five-game homestand.
