New Orleans Pelicans: Game grades for win over Los Angeles Lakers
The New Orleans Pelicans entered the Staples Center on Sunday night with a chance to end a two game losing streak and close out a roadtrip on the right foot and behind Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis they did just that. Holiday finished with 22 points, eight assists and four rebounds and Davis finished with 23 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal as the Pelicans built a 20 point second half lead and coasted to victory.
Other observations:
- The Pelicans did a great team job on Kobe Bryant. Any time he drove towards the paint a wall of Pelicans appeared to impede his way and force him into a tough shot. Kobe was going to shoot early and often so the fact that the Pelicans made all the looks so tough forced Bryant and the Lakers into rough shooting.
- The Pelicans out rebounded the Lakers 50 to 38 and totaled 38 assists to the Lakers 18. New Orleans was the much better team and they made it clear tonight.
- Hopefully the injury to Babbitt isn’t serious. It seemed to happen late in the second half when he closed out on Nick Young and slipped on around the part of the floor that Kobe had slipped on a few moments earlier. Those are the type of things that can cause bad injuries so hopefully Babbitt got lucky.
- The Pelicans have a chance to build a two game winning streak with the Knicks coming into New Orleans on Tuesday. It is another team the Pelicans are significantly better than so a win will be expected.