3 takeaways from the Pelicans’ blowout win over the Lakers
The New Orleans Pelicans put a beat down on the slumping Los Angeles Lakers last night for their second road win in a row over a Western Conference opponent.
The Lakers were never able to match the Pels’ intensity and played a sloppy game that included 16 turnovers in the first half alone.
New Orleans built a double-digit lead and then blew it open in the 3rd quarter, pushing the ball in transition and often beating the lifeless Lakers down the floor.
LA has won just 3-of-10 games and now look like a team the Pelicans might be able to chase down in the standings.
It was a joy to watch (and re-watch this morning), as the Pelicans put together a solid effort where they simply outplayed and outhustled the Lakers at every turn.
light. Related Story. Dreaming of the Pelicans at full strength
Here are three takeaways from the Pels’ biggest win of the season.
The New Orleans Pelicans in the standings
After last night’s win and a loss from Portland, the Pelicans have retaken the 10th spot in the standings with just 21 games left to play.
They are also just 2.5 games behind the Lakers for the 9th spot, which is starting to look like a possibility.
The Pelicans have the 21st most-difficult remaining schedule in the NBA, while the Lakers have the 2nd, and the two teams play each other twice more in the home stretch.
New Orleans is starting to roll behind Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, but it wasn’t just the starting lineup that played well last night.