Luka Doncic scored 20 of his 34 points in the first quarter and added 12 rebounds with seven assists as the Los Angeles Lakers increased their winning streak to seven games with a 133-121 victory over the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Austin Reaves scored 33 points with eight assists and Deandre Ayton added 22 points with 12 rebounds before leaving in the fourth quarter with right knee discomfort. The Lakers won without LeBron James, who was resting a sore left foot on the first night of a back-to-back.
Doncic’s early production led to a 46-27 lead after one quarter, the most Los Angeles has scored in any quarter this season and tied for the fifth most in a first quarter in franchise history.
Saddiq Bey scored 22 points with 11 rebounds and Bryce McGowens added 23 points with seven rebounds for the Pelicans, who were without their top two scorers in Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Trey Murphy III (elbow) on the second night of a back-to-back.
Jeremiah Fears scored 21 points, while Derik Queen had 15 and Micah Peavy added 13 for New Orleans, who trailed by as many as 22 points in the first quarter and 26 in the first half while losing for the 12th time in their past 13 games.
Even without James, the Lakers had more than enough scoring options from the jump while shooting 70.% from the floor in the first quarter and 50% (5 of 10) from 3-point range. Los Angeles led 77-57 at halftime, tying their most points scored in any half this season.
The Pelicans managed to pull within 100-89 with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter before the Lakers pushed their advantage back over 20 points at 121-99 with 7:47 remaining.
The Lakers finished by shooting 48.3% from the floor and committed just nine turnovers while improving to 7-2 at home. The Pelicans rallied to shoot 50.5% from the floor.
