The Los Angeles Lakers continue to make headlines in the NBA, and Tuesday night in New Orleans was no exception. With a 111-103 victory over the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center, the Lakers not only extended their winning streak to three games but also demonstrated why they are considered the most clutch team in the league this season. The dynamic duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić led the charge, each pouring in 30 points and making pivotal plays when it mattered most.
From the opening tip, the Lakers looked determined to assert themselves. Luka Dončić got off to a hot start, notching 11 points in the first quarter, while LeBron James chipped in with seven. Their efforts helped Los Angeles take a 29-25 lead after one. Dalton Knecht extended that margin with a three-pointer to open the second quarter, but the Pelicans, spurred by Trey Murphy III, tightened up defensively and started to tilt the momentum in their favor.
Murphy, who would go on to finish with a career-high 42 points, was relentless in the second and third quarters. He tallied 11 points in the second, helping New Orleans edge ahead 54-51 by halftime. The Lakers, meanwhile, struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just three of 17 attempts in the first half. Dončić, despite racking up 16 points by the break, was 0-for-6 from deep.
The third quarter saw the Pelicans stretch their lead to as many as nine points, thanks again to Murphy’s sharpshooting and the unselfish play of rookie Derik Queen, who finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. A highlight for Lakers fans came late in the third, when LeBron James picked off a pass and soared for a windmill dunk, slicing the deficit to four. However, Murphy capped the quarter with a tough three-point play, and New Orleans entered the final frame up 86-79.
That’s when the Lakers’ clutch DNA took over. Los Angeles opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run, including back-to-back three-pointers from James that sent a jolt through the visiting bench. The Pelicans, who had been so composed earlier, suddenly looked rattled. They managed just five field goals in the period and coughed up seven turnovers. New Orleans did close the gap to four with a Jose Alvarado three-pointer with just over three minutes left, but the Lakers responded in style. James hit a pair of reverse layups, and Dončić delivered the dagger—a 31-foot three-pointer to beat the shot clock with two minutes remaining.
LeBron James was everywhere, finishing with 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting (including 3-of-5 from three-point range), eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block in 33 minutes. "You have to be communicating throughout the whole possession. You can make up for mistakes when you’re communicating, and things break down. I thought we did a good job of helping each other in the fourth quarter. Obviously, Trey Murphy is a hell of a player. He was able to get loose a couple of times, but for the majority, we would have bodies on bodies, and we were able to clean glass in the second half," James said in his postgame interview, as reported by ESPN.
Dončić matched James with 30 points and added 10 assists, showcasing his ability to control the tempo and deliver in high-pressure situations. The chemistry between the two stars is becoming a nightmare for opposing defenses, especially in the closing minutes. As noted by several analysts, the Lakers increasingly rely on the two-man game between Dončić and James late in tight contests, a strategy that has made them all but unstoppable when the stakes are highest.
Deandre Ayton also made his presence felt with 18 points and 11 rebounds, providing the Lakers with a much-needed interior anchor. For the Pelicans, Zion Williamson added 15 points, while Alvarado and Queen contributed in spurts. But the night belonged to the Lakers, whose 32-17 advantage in the fourth quarter underscored their dominance when it matters most.
The numbers back up the eye test. With this win, the Lakers improved to a league-best 13-0 in clutch games, defined as games within five points in the final five minutes. Their defensive rating in these situations is a staggering 88.9, the best in the NBA by a wide margin. Every other team has lost at least four clutch games already, but the Lakers keep finding ways to close out tight contests. Their net rating in these moments stands at an eye-popping 39.1, further cementing their reputation as the league’s premier clutch performers.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for a team that, for most of the season, has struggled defensively. The Lakers currently rank 26th in overall defensive rating, often surrendering easy baskets for stretches. Yet when the game is on the line, they morph into a different animal. "Whatever the Lakers are doing, it is working," observed one analyst, and it’s hard to argue. The combination of veteran leadership, high-level communication, and timely shot-making has made them the team nobody wants to face in a close game.
Head coach JJ Redick deserves credit for getting the best out of his stars, particularly the 41-year-old James, who continues to defy Father Time. In his last 12 appearances since December 4, James has averaged 25.6 points, 6.3 assists, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 made threes, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks over 33.5 minutes per game. He’s also notched three 30-point games in that span, including two in his last three outings.
Looking ahead, the Lakers’ schedule doesn’t get any easier. On Wednesday, January 7, they’ll travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs in a nationally televised ESPN doubleheader. The Lakers, led by James and the league’s scoring leader Dončić, will look to extend their winning streak and further solidify their status as a Western Conference powerhouse. NBA Countdown will kick off the night’s coverage at 6:30 p.m. ET, with tipoff set for 9:30 p.m. ET.
With their blend of experience, star power, and clutch performance, the Lakers are sending a clear message to the rest of the NBA: underestimate them at your own risk. As the regular season heats up and the playoffs loom on the horizon, Los Angeles is proving that when the lights are brightest, they shine the most.