Pelicans vs. Lakers: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

The New Orleans Pelicans (33-43) play against the Los Angeles Lakers (45-45) at STAPLES Center

Game Time: 10:30 PM EDT on Friday April 1, 2022

New Orleans Pelicans 110, Los Angeles Lakers 108 (Q4 01:57)

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Huge call right here for both teams. AD fouled JV with 1:57 left on the clock. LeBron convinces Vogel to challenge it.
If the call stands, JV will attempt two free throws with the Pels leading 110-108 – 12:57 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Critical foul called against Anthony Davis to put Valanciunas at the line. Frank’s gonna challenge. – 12:56 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Frank Vogel is challenging that foul call on AD. – 12:56 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
How good have CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram been tonight?
Man, special. – 12:54 AM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Jonas stays ready 🙌
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/WepLNWq8ZF – 12:51 AM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
JV just picked up his 5th foul. That’s a big one. AD’s starting to attack him off the dribble and have success. – 12:50 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Huge sequence there. Jonas Valanciunas comes up with the block on Russell Westbrook on one end and then gets the tip-in on the other. Four-point swing by the Pels center alone. – 12:49 AM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Kent Bazemore is ready (if needed) – 12:49 AM Bill Oram @billoram
I was certain Trey Murphy III was about to have another Laker-killing moment. – 12:49 AM Matt Williams @StatsWilliams
LeBron James has 5 straight 35-point games, the 2nd-longest streak of his career. He had a 9-game streak in 2006.
He is the 3rd Lakers player over the last 30 years with 5 straight 35-point games, joining Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. – 12:47 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Good work from Stanley Johnson to secure position and draw a PF on Valanciunas under the NOP rim, resulting in bonus FT’s on the other end … but he missed 2, and Westbrook committed his 5th PF on the rebound.
Jones missed 1 of 2, as LAL lead 102-99 with 5:27 left. – 12:46 AM Christian Clark @cclark_13
Can’t allow LeBron to go 1 on 1. If you lose, make someone else beat you. – 12:42 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Confirmed that the fan who was ejected got into it with Anthony Davis, not sure what was said exactly. – 12:42 AM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Jose and-1!
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/Qn832b4vHO – 12:41 AM Dave McMenamin @mcten
The lower level fan who got ejected for heckling Anthony Davis early on in the 4th Q came back down to his seat and was ejected again. Right out of Larry David’s handbook when he quit SNL and then showed back up to work the next week like nothing happened – 12:41 AM Bill Oram @billoram
I think LeBron just hit Jones with an elbow in his Herb garden – 12:41 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron with a grown man move to get Herb Jones off of him and dive inside for the bucket. – 12:41 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL have been getting better shots than NOP for much of the game, but Ingram (9 for 13 FG’s, 7 for 7 FT’s) and McCollum (11 for 19 FG’s, 4 of 8 3’s, 2 of 2 FT’s) continue to knock them down, keeping NOP right there. – 12:40 AM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Jose Alvarado is better than Devonte’ Graham. – 12:39 AM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
After Russell Westbrook made a 3, AD went over to midcourt and yelled at a fan. The fan was just escorted from his seat – 12:36 AM Bill Oram @billoram
3s on consecutive possessions by Westbrook, Monk and Westbrook (again!) and the Lakers have a 96-90 lead. It’s their largest of the game. 8:56 to go with their Play-In dreams more or less on the line. – 12:36 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Russell Westbrook with a couple of threes just 70 seconds apart.
What world is this?
Pelicans trail Lakers 96-90 while LeBron James is getting his rest. #Sigh – 12:35 AM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Lakers shooting comes alive with LeBron on the bench. Westbrook knocks down a pair of 3s around a Monk 3. – 12:35 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
A pair of Russell Westbrook 3s and a Malik Monk 3 has the Lakers up by six, 96-90, with 8:56 remaining in this game. – 12:35 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
After starting the night 1 for 8 and shortly after an airball, Russell Westbrook has made a pair of 3-pointers. Lakers up 96-90. – 12:34 AM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
I don’t know everything about avoiding possessions that end in air-balled 24 second violations, but the Lakers might wanna consider running an offense. AK – 12:34 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Big 3 from Westbrook, who’d been struggling from the field up to this point, at 1 for 8 until he put LAL up 90-88 early in the 4th Q. – 12:33 AM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Really like Willie getting BI and CJ in the game while LeBron rests – 12:33 AM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
LeBron played the entire third quarter, scored 21.
With him getting a rest to start the fourth, two quick 24-second violations by the Lakers. – 12:32 AM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Pelicans are such a different animal when McCollum and Ingram are both going together.
New Orleans hanging right in despite some vintage LeBron stuff in 3Q.
Huge quarter – for both of these teams – coming up here. – 12:28 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Bron getting buckets.
@LeBron James: 36 pts (12/19 FG, 9/12 FT) pic.twitter.com/ailFVlmZGs – 12:27 AM Christian Clark @cclark_13
LeBron played the entire third quarter. He scored 21 points. – 12:27 AM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James has 36 points, 7 rebounds, AD 19 points, 9 rebounds as Lakers hold an 87-86 lead over Pelicans after three. James had 21 points in the third. – 12:27 AM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Coming down to the last frame… pic.twitter.com/3ZUQ2vT4yg – 12:26 AM Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Lakers up 87-86 over the Pelicans after 3.
If the Lakers lose this game, they’ll essentially be two back of the Spurs in 10th with five to play, as SAS have a better conference record. And Spurs have another Portland game left.
Big 12 minutes upcoming for LA’s postseason hopes. – 12:26 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron scored 21 of his 36 points in the 3rd Q, but LAL lead by just one nonetheless, 87-86, as Ingram and McCollum (47 combined in the game) had plenty of counterpunches. – 12:26 AM Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Lebron has played 32 minutes thru the first 3rd qtrs, he’s up to 36pts…Lakers lead 87-86 going into the 4th – 12:26 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Third quarter: Lakers 87, Pelicans 86
LeBron scored 21 points in the third en route to a game-high 36 points. He’s been brilliant offensively. Anthony Davis has 19 points and 9 rebounds. The Lakers were able to string together some good defensive stretches in the quarter. – 12:26 AM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of the 3rd: Lakers 87, Pelicans 86
McCollum 26 pts
Ingram 21 pts (15 in 3rd) & 6 assts
Jones 9 pts
LeBron went for 21 points in the quarter and shifted the momentum in LA’s direction. Pels need someone other than CJ and BI to provide some offense. – 12:26 AM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Naji 🔥🔥
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/9SCJphnlsU – 12:25 AM James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
CJ McCollum makes everything look so easy. Dude is ELITE. – 12:24 AM Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Bummed I haven’t watched many Pelicans games this year because Joel Meyers and Antonio Daniels are one of my favorite commentary duos. Smart and direct analysis from both and Meyers is an all-timer on his own. – 12:24 AM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
LeBron has 21 points in the quarter, 36 overall – 12:22 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Thank goodness for Naji Marshall. Two big plays with the shot clock winding down and LeBron James running rampant on the other end. – 12:22 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Lefty circus shot 👑
(📺: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/FA3Tl9ev0y – 12:18 AM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
It’s been awhile since #Pelicans have had a game where they forced this many drives/passes into traffic. The dominated the turnover battle in other two games vs. Lakers, but it’s 11 apiece tonight late 3Q – 12:16 AM Christian Clark @cclark_13
LeBron killing in transition. Gotta keep him from getting out on the break so much. – 12:15 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron is up to 32 points after his most recent scoring burst, and AD (16) and Monk (9) scored at the rim after LeBron’s 3rd triple, to keep LAL up 3 despite a NOP triple.
It’s 79-76 with 3:27 to play in the 3rd. – 12:14 AM Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
It’s basically 1 v 5 out there. And 1 is LeBron. And that’s been more than enough. – 12:14 AM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
LeBron has been incredible in the 3rd quarter – 12:12 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
It’s the third quarter. Against the Lakers. And Trey Murphy just checked in.
Let’s get this fire started. – 12:12 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron hit both flagrant FT’s, and moments later, pulled up for a deep 3 to put LAL up 73-69. It’s their biggest lead. – 12:12 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Bron’s got 30 – 12:11 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Flagrant 1 on Ingram for swiping LeBron’s face on the drive. Second flagrant LeBron has taken tonight. He missed the first two FTs he took on the first; now he makes both. – 12:11 AM Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Brandon Ingram was assessed a Flagrant Foul 1 on the play. – 12:10 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Flagrant 1 on Brandon Ingram. – 12:10 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Completely agree with @adaniels33 When LeBron falls after contact, you know the officials are going straight to the monitors.
I admit I’m worried because Brandon Ingram grazed James’ face. – 12:10 AM Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
The videoboard is playing replays of Ingram swiping LeBron James as the crowd gasps. – 12:09 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Ingram will definitely get a flagrant PF here, the question is, 1 or 2, as he caught LeBron directly in the face, without a play on the ball. – 12:09 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Spotted: Hopper pic.twitter.com/kshXRoozJv – 12:08 AM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Check out pictures from a big night in LA➡️ https://t.co/Ly7DPMUIUo pic.twitter.com/rWT91uMhgk – 12:06 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron, dealing with that sore ankle, still has 24 points on 9 of 14 FG’s thus far, his latest an and-1 drive with a FT coming out of a time out.
McCollum (22) and Ingram (17) have been efficient as well (combined 15 of 26), however, and NOP leads by 2. – 12:05 AM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Herb Jones is going to be a very good NBA defender (and already is good), but he is a lot of time in the weight room away from handling a driving LeBron. – 12:04 AM Bill Oram @billoram
David Harbour knows what seed the Lakers currently occupy pic.twitter.com/MX2oNhX8lW – 12:04 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James almost looked SHOCKED that Herb Jones just blocked his long-range jumper! – 12:00 AM Bill Oram @billoram
LeBron James just dove into Hopper from Stranger Things, so I guess you might say he gave him… safe Harbour – 12:00 AM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
HERB SNEAK ATTACK
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/X3lhBfcjTx – 12:00 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Glad LeBron was able to find a safe Harbour to land – 12:00 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
With 2 early PF’s on Westbrook in the 3rd, plus one on LeBron and one on AD, New Orleans is already in the bonus with 9 minutes left in the 3rd Q.
NOP has committed 3 PF’s as well.
Score: NOP 63, LAL 62. – 12:00 AM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
This ball tryna play us on April Fools Day 🙄
B.I. 3⃣ pic.twitter.com/jeRUeXvMM4 – 11:56 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James’ defense strikes again. Great cut, Herb! – 11:55 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Monk’s in for Westbrook (4 PF’s) at the 9:36 mark of the 3rd Q, with New Orleans up 61-58 after 2 Ingram FT’s. – 11:55 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Slam Monk pic.twitter.com/ij8dMReC5o – 11:50 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
CJ beats the buzzer to end the first half!
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/rRfs4UtfY1 – 11:50 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Halftime stats:
@CJ McCollum 7-13 from the floor, 18pts
@Brandon Ingram 5 ast, 1blk, 1 stl, 6pts
@Jonas Valanciunas 6 reb, 6pts pic.twitter.com/XuFudN0BtB – 11:45 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
#Pelicans vs. Lakers this season
1st half: Lakers 159, Pels 150 (including tonight)
2nd half: Pels 139, Lakers 94 – 11:44 PM Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Anthony Davis returns in the Grinch Kobe 6s 🐍 pic.twitter.com/mrD4l6543a – 11:42 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Kind of surprising we only saw 4 minutes of Jose Alvarado in the first half – 11:41 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
What’s your vote for the @SociosUSA top moment from the first half?
#WBD – 11:40 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
After officials review and say Jaxson Hayes late-in-the-half dunk was after the 24 second clock expired, without that bucket it’s 50-50 at the break. – 11:37 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
The Jaxson Hayes dunk with 36.2 seconds left in the half was determined to be after the shot clock buzzer.
The Score at half has been changed to 50-50. – 11:37 PM Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
HALF: Pelicans 50, Lakers 50
– CJ: 18p, 4r, 2s
– Hayes: 6p, 2s
– BI: 6p, 5a
Pels: 48.8 FG%, 5/16 3P, 5/7 FT
Lakers: 47.6 FG%, 4/13 3P, 6/8 FT
LeBron: 15p, 5r
AD: 8p, 9r, 4a – 11:37 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
50/50 pic.twitter.com/TqIekhzPR6 – 11:37 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Time for a coffee break ☕️ pic.twitter.com/SBBv4RtQoZ – 11:36 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Correction Jaxson Hayes dunk came after shot clock expired, so score is 50-50 at the half between Lakers and Pelicans. – 11:36 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Pelicans 50, Lakers 50
The two teams traded baskets for much of the half. LeBron has 15 points and 5 rebounds. AD has 8 points and 9 rebounds. No Austin Reaves or Talen Horton-Tucker in the first half, with Frank Vogel opting for Avery Bradley and DJ Augustine. – 11:35 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
HALFTIME: Lakers 50, Pelicans 50.
Review rules Jaxson Hayes’ dunk in the last 35 seconds was after the playclock. – 11:35 PM Eric Pincus @EricPincus
Lakers Pelicans tied at 50 at the half. Hayes basket taken away – 11:35 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Score update: 50-50 at the half.
New Orleans had a dunk from Hayes pulled back, as it came after the shot clock buzzer had expired. – 11:35 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of the 1st half: Pelicans 52, Lakers 50
McCollum 18 pts & 4 rebs
Hayes 8 pts
Ingram 6 pts & 5 assts
This game definitely has a playoff feel, Physical defense on both sides, a couple chippy moments. Should be a really fun second half – 11:35 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Nuggets going to have to do it the hard way. Gotta win 3 of the last 4.
At Lakers on Sunday
Spurs
Grizzlies
Lakers – 11:35 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Footwork 🔑 pic.twitter.com/K0GleUFvbp – 11:35 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL head into the halftime tunnel trailing 52-50 after McCollum (buzzer-beating 2) got to 18 points to lead all scorers.
Davis has 8 points, 9 boards and 4 assists in his first game since Feb. 16, while LeBron has 15 points and 5 boards.
LAL have 10 TO’s, NOP 8. – 11:35 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner
CJ McCollum scores at buzzer to give Pelicans a 52-50 lead over Lakers at the half. LeBron James has 15 points, 5 rebounds, AD has 8 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists. – 11:35 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
LeBron James is gambling so MUCH. He’s left Jaxson Hayes completely multiple times, and it’s led to 3 easy hoops for Jax. – 11:34 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
THERE IT IS @Jaxson Hayes 🤩
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/SikShC18eV – 11:34 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Tie game after a vicious Malik Monk breakaway dunk. – 11:33 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Got it done 😤 @Brandon Ingram
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/8NuFyWVp6Z – 11:31 PM Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
As Ty Lue told the team postgame, tonight’s win in Milwaukee lowered the Clippers’ magic number to clinch the 8th spot to 2. Obviously, Pelicans’ game with the Lakers still ongoing. – 11:29 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Brandon Ingram has become so good at that free throw line stop-and-pop jumper. Helluva shot to have in your bag. AK – 11:29 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Jonas sticks with it and draws the foul 💪
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/tqfJ03LSJy – 11:27 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
DJ Augustin came into this game hitting 53% of his 3’s for the Lakers, and just made his 1st tonight to pull LAL to within 2 early in the 2nd Q. – 11:21 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
We’re 16 minutes into this game and Austin Reaves has yet to see the floor. – 11:19 PM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Must-win game for the Lakers and their defense is just garbage. Bradley left CJ to go double BI that wound up an open three, LeBron let Jaxson catch a pass at the rim for a bunny, L.A. is allowing the Pels to get out in transition and so much more. 👏 – 11:19 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
*chef’s kiss* @AlvaradoJose15 x @Larry Nance Jr
📺: @BallySportsNO, @NBATV
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA pic.twitter.com/150O0xcDlI – 11:17 PM Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Jose Alvarado is in and i see several unoccupied courtside seats. just thinking out loud here. – 11:15 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Really surprised we’re a few minutes into the second quarter and neither Austin Reaves nor Talen Horton-Tucker have checked in yet. Dwight Howard is checking back in. – 11:14 PM Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
New Orleans bench has been a big generator of steals lately (Jose obviously, as well as Naji Marshall), but starters came up with five thefts in 1Q, including two from Jaxson Hayes – 11:10 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
First quarter: Pelicans 30, Lakers 25
LeBron James has 9 points — his jumper has been falling early. Anthony Davis has 2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. The Lakers’ starters were -3 in eight minutes together. LA has 6 turnovers. C.J. McCollum lit them up with 14 points. – 11:10 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
The Lakers led 25-24 with 2:58 to play in the 1st Q, but failed to score for the rest of the period, missing their final 8 shots to sink to 10 for 21, after they’d started 10 for 13.
NOP managed six points, including a 3 with 3 seconds left, to lead 30-25. – 11:10 PM New Orleans Pelicans @PelicansNBA
Up after one 👊
#Pelicans | @TaxAct pic.twitter.com/LGpeIIG4vQ – 11:10 PM Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of the 1st: Pelicans 30, Lakers 25
McCollum 14 pts (4-4 on 3s)
Ingram 4 pts & 3 assts
Hayes 4 pts
The Lakers started 10-13 from the field and missed their last eight shots to finish the quarter. They threw a pretty decent punch to start, but the Pels responded – 11:10 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Lakers started hot but missed their last 8 shots of the first quarter and trail 30-25 after one.
CJ McCollum with 14 in the first. – 11:09 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
After one. pic.twitter.com/av8MNCfgDL – 11:09 PM Oleh K