The Reaves-Luka Synergy: Lakers Dominate Pelicans to Go 2-0 in NBA Cup Play

Read Time:2 Minute, 9 Second

NEW ORLEANS, LA — The Los Angeles Lakers (9-4) continued to navigate the early portion of the schedule without LeBron James, relying on stellar performances from their remaining stars to secure a convincing 118-104 victory over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans (2-10) on Friday night.

The win was especially valuable as it keeps the Lakers perfect in the NBA Cup group stage at 2-0, firmly placing them atop West Group B.

Reaves Takes the Lead, Luka Orchestrates

The victory was a showcase of L.A.’s balanced offense, led by a scorching night from Austin Reaves and the masterful playmaking of Luka Dončić:

Austin Reaves’ Scoring Surge: Guard Austin Reaves took control of the scoring, leading all Lakers with 31 points. Reaves was aggressive all night, getting to the free-throw line frequently, where he made 11 of 13 attempts. His 16-foot driving floater capped a crucial 11-0 third-quarter run that put the game out of reach.
Luka’s Double-Double: Luka Dončić ensured the offense ran smoothly, posting 24 points and 12 assists. Dončić’s playmaking was key in setting up the frontcourt, including a beautiful alley-oop to Deandre Ayton that helped build the 65-52 halftime lead.

Ayton’s Dominant Two-Way Effort

Center Deandre Ayton provided the muscle and efficiency needed to dominate the interior against the short-handed Pelicans.

Near-Perfect Shooting: Ayton was incredibly efficient, making 10 of his 11 shots from the field to score 20 points.
Controlling the Glass: He also pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds and added two steals and a block, helping the Lakers control the boards and the paint.

Pelicans’ Struggles Continue

The New Orleans Pelicans, playing without their biggest star, Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain), dropped their fourth straight game and now sit in last place in the Western Conference.

Trey Murphy III’s Best: The brightest spot for New Orleans was forward Trey Murphy III, who scored a game-high 35 points, his second 34-plus point outing in the last four games.
Brief Fightback: New Orleans showed a brief spark in the final quarter, trimming the Lakers’ comfortable 22-point lead down to just eight (96-88) after back-to-back three-pointers from Jose Alvarado and Saddiq Bey, but the Lakers quickly responded with a 12-foot fade from Dončić and clutch free throws from Reaves to restore order.

The Lakers wrap up their road trip tomorrow when they face the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Pelicans will attempt to snap their skid at home against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.