The Los Angeles Lakers needed a strong fourth quarter to get the job done, and that’s exactly what they delivered. Powered by a 34-23 closing frame and another well-rounded performance from Luka Doncic, the Lakers came away with a 110-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena in front of 18,248 fans. Los Angeles improved to 37-24 on the season, while New Orleans fell to 19-44.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Pelicans Set the Pace Early
New Orleans came out with purpose, outscoring the Lakers 33-31 in the opening frame. The Pelicans moved the ball effectively and got easy looks in transition, building a modest but meaningful two-point edge heading into the second quarter.
Second Quarter: Lakers Take Control
Los Angeles responded with a focused second quarter, outscoring New Orleans 23-18 to take a 54-51 lead at the half. The Lakers tightened their defense and began finding rhythm offensively, particularly in half-court sets. Heading into the locker room, the game was very much up for grabs.
Third Quarter: Pelicans Reclaim the Lead
New Orleans came out of the break with renewed energy, posting 27 points in the third quarter to the Lakers’ 22. That gave the Pelicans a 78-76 advantage entering the final 12 minutes, setting the stage for a compelling fourth-quarter finish.
Fourth Quarter: Lakers Pull Away
Los Angeles took control when it mattered most. The Lakers outscored the Pelicans 34-23 in the fourth quarter, steadily extending a narrow deficit into a comfortable nine-point final margin. Doncic was central to the decisive stretch, and the Lakers’ collective composure down the stretch made the difference.
Key Performers
Luka Doncic — Los Angeles Lakers
Doncic led all scorers with 27 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 7 assists — a near triple-double that demonstrated his all-around impact on both ends of the court. His presence in the fourth quarter was particularly notable as the Lakers pulled away. Doncic’s game rating of 45.4 per ESPN’s metrics was the highest of the night for any player on either team.
Zion Williamson — New Orleans Pelicans
Williamson delivered the most productive offensive performance on the Pelicans’ side, finishing with 24 points to pace New Orleans. He was a consistent threat in the paint and kept the Pelicans competitive through three quarters, but couldn’t sustain that production in the final frame as the Lakers’ defense stiffened.
Trey Murphy III — New Orleans Pelicans
Murphy III earned the top game-rating distinction for New Orleans, finishing with 21 points and a game-high 8 rebounds. His versatility on the wing gave the Pelicans a secondary scoring option and his rebounding effort — matching his team’s per-player high — helped New Orleans stay in the game heading into the fourth.
Dejounte Murray — New Orleans Pelicans
Murray tied for the game lead in assists with 8, matching Doncic’s 7 from the Lakers’ side with a playmaking performance that kept New Orleans’ offense moving. His ability to create for teammates gave the Pelicans life in the third quarter, though it wasn’t enough to hold the lead.
Game Analysis
This was a game decided by fourth-quarter execution rather than a dominant performance from wire to wire. The Lakers shot 47.0% from the field on 83 attempts and connected on 11-of-37 three-pointers (29.7%), while also going 21-of-26 from the free-throw line (80.8%). Their 29 team assists and 48 rebounds illustrated the collective, team-oriented approach that defined their offense on the night.
New Orleans, for its part, was efficient at the line — connecting on 17-of-19 free throws (89.5%) — but shot just 42.2% from the field on a higher volume of attempts (90 FGA), and their three-point shooting (8-of-29, 27.6%) left points on the board. The Pelicans matched the Lakers with 29 assists but were outrebounded 48-41, a margin that contributed to Los Angeles’ ability to generate second-chance opportunities.
The Lakers’ fourth-quarter response was the defining factor. After allowing New Orleans to retake the lead in the third, Los Angeles settled in, leaned on Doncic as a primary decision-maker, and executed efficiently enough to pull away without drama.
Standings and Series Context
With the win, the Lakers move to 37-24 overall, including an 18-12 home record and a strong 19-12 mark on the road. As the 2025-26 season heads toward its final stretch, Los Angeles continues to position itself as a legitimate postseason contender in the Western Conference. New Orleans drops to 19-44, continuing a difficult season that has kept the Pelicans well outside the playoff picture. The Lakers’ ability to close out games — particularly in fourth quarters like this one — will be a key factor as they look to build momentum heading into the postseason.
