Lakers ground Pelicans with James and Doncic dropping 30 each
NEW ORLEANS—LeBron James scored 30 points, Luca Doncic capped his 30-point, 10-assist performance with a pair of off-balance, bail-out triples as the shot clock wound down and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the reeling New Orleans Pelicans, 111-103, on Tuesday night.
Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the fourth time in their past five games while sending the Pelicans to their eighth straight loss.
Trey Murphy scored a career-high 41, Zion Williamson scored 15 points and rookie Derik Queen had 10 points and 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which led by as many as nine points late in the third quarter.
The Lakers opened the fourth quarter on an 18-4 run that included two deep triples by James, a three-pointer by Dalton Knecht and a pair of baskets in the paint by Ayton. The surge put Los Angeles up, 97-90, and the Pelicans could not get closer than four after that.
Neither team led by more than seven until Karlo Matkovic’s free throws gave New Orleans an 83-74 lead late in the third quarter.
James’ three free throws and breakaway dunk quickly trimmed the Lakers’ deficit to four before Murphy, who had 20 points in the third quarter, hit a driving reverse scoop as he was fouled to make it 86-79 heading to the final period.
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Miami Heat for the second time in four days, 122-94.
Listed as questionable on the pregame injury report with a foot injury, Edwards connected on a team-high five three-pointers and was 5-for-6 at the free-throw line.
Three-game win streak
Minnesota has now won three in a row, including a 125-115 win over Miami on Saturday.
Jaden McDaniels added 19 points for the Wolves, while Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 17 rebounds and Julius Randle had 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Miami’s leading scorer, Norman Powell, finished with 21 points. Tyler Herro scored 17 points in his return after missing the last 11 games with a toe injury. Herro came off the bench for just his fourth time in the past four seasons.
The only thing slowing down Edwards on Tuesday was foul trouble. He picked up his second foul with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter. He sat for the remainder of the quarter but was back out to start the second with the Wolves trailing, 29-27.
Edwards also sat for the final 3:34 of the third quarter after he picked up his fourth foul.
