The Lakers are riding a fourth-quarter surge to pull off a comeback win over the Pelicans.


NBA: New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles LakersMarch 3, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center DeAndre Ayton (5), forward LeBron James (23), and New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejunte Murray (5) reach for the ball in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Luka Doncic had 27 points and 10 rebounds and LeBron James added 21 points as the Los Angeles Lakers won their third straight game with a 110-101 victory over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Austin Reaves had 15 points and eight rebounds and Deandre Ayton added 13 points and eight boards as the Lakers won despite 22 turnovers. They improved to 4-2 after giving the ball away at least 22 times this season.

Los Angeles exploded with a 22-4 lead in the fourth quarter and won.

Zion Williamson scored 24 points and Trey Murphy III added 21 as the Pelicans dropped back-to-back games in the Los Angeles zone following Sunday’s loss to the Clippers. New Orleans is 0-4 in its season series against the Lakers.

Saddiq Bey scored 18 points and Dejounte Murray added 15 for New Orleans, which fell to 2-2 on a six-game road trip. Murray was playing in his fourth game of the season after returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The Pelicans took a 78-76 lead into the fourth quarter and then went on a 7-0 run with 7:20 remaining following a 3-point play by Williamson to take a 94-86 advantage.

The Lakers responded strongly with a 14-0 run, including a pair of 3-pointers by Reeves. Los Angeles took a 100-94 lead with 3 minutes, 13 seconds left after a Marcus Smart steal and assist from James layup.

The Pelicans pulled within 100-98 on a pair of Williamson baskets, and the Lakers converted back-to-back 3-pointers by Smart and Doncic for a 108-98 lead with a minute left.

New Orleans scored 33 points in the first quarter, but scored 18 points in the second quarter and trailed 54-51 at halftime. James and Doncic each had 16 first-half points for Los Angeles, while Murphy had 11 points for the Pelicans.

New Orleans had 18 assists on 20 field goals before halftime and finished the night with 29 assists on 38 field goals.

–Field level media

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