Pelicans take care of business against depleted Lakers, 128-111

When you are facing an elite team which is severely wounded, that elite team is anything but elite.

When you are facing an elite team in that condition, you must take advantage of your position.

The New Orleans Pelicans did so with precision Tuesday night, drilling the Lakers 128-111 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.

The Lakers had won seven straight against the Pelicans but they were not going to win on this night, not without LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

New Orleans beat the Lakers for the first time since 2019.

New Orleans led 32-29 after one quarter and after holding Los Angeles to just 17 points in the second quarter, the Pelicans took a 59-46 lead into halftime.

The Pelicans shot 52.3 percent from the field (23-of-44) and shot 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the free throw line in the first half.

The Lakers were just 14-of-40 (35%) from the field and 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the free throw line.

Zion Williamson stuffed the stat sheet in the half with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 16 points. Jaxson Hayes was big off the bench with 10 points and three rebounds.

New Orleans handled the Lakers 27-18 on the glass.

The Pelicans dominated in the paint by 28 points in the first half.

Ingram continued to torture his former team in the third quarter, scoring 17 points in the frame as New Orleans pulled away to a 102-76 lead, scoring 42 points in the quarter.

New Orleans shot 15-of-24 (62.5%) in the quarter.

The game was effectively over.

Ingram finished 14-of-21 from the field for 36 points.

Williamson had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Steven Adams was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field for 12 points with seven rebounds.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker was good again in his second straight start for the injured Lonzo Ball, scoring 18 points with seven rebounds and three assists.

Hayes finished with 15 points and five rebounds, continuing his fine play off the bench.

Speaking of bench play, Kira Lewis Jr. had his most productive game with 16 points, six assists and two blocks.

New Orleans finished 47-of-90 (52.2%) from the field and a terrific 24-of-26 (92.3%) from the free throw line.

The Pelicans butchered the Lakers 53-34 on the boards.

Not too long ago, many callers to our radio shows were expressing a desire to acquire Kyle Kuzma in the Lakers deal for Anthony Davis, rather than Ingram.

Thankfully, the Pelicans insisted on and settled on Ingram, with all due respect to Kuzma.

As for Ball, he has played well but with he and JJ Redick out, Alexander-Walker and Lewis are getting a chance to show what they are capable of. You have to like what you see.

The homestand continues Friday night with the Nuggets in town. New Orleans won at Denver 113-108 last Sunday. The Pelicans will have a chance to match a season-high three straight wins with a victory.

The Pelicans did what they needed to do Tuesday night, beating a depleted team in convincing fashion.