Game ID: 22301195
Los Angeles Lakers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 24 29 24 31 108LAL 30 40 29 25 124
LAL @ NOP ScoutingLAL @ NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Ingram missed 8 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 5 since 3/28, returns tonight: 22 min (122% of 18)
BACK Daniels back 3/30 after 21, 24 min since (110% of 22)
BACK Ryan back 3/28 after 2, 6 min since (43% of 14)
NEW McCollum 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 31 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Murphy III 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Ingram missed 9 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Daniels back 3/30 after 21, 25 min since (114% of 22)
BACK Alvarado back 4/07 after 5, 22 min since (122% of 18)
NEW McCollum 33 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Williamson 32 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Murphy III 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Ingram missed 10 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Marshall missed 2 since 4/07, returns tonight: 4 min (18% of 19)
BACK Alvarado back 4/07 after 5, 21 min since (115% of 18)
NEW McCollum 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Murphy III 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Daniels 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/12 · back-to-backOUT Ingram missed 11 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 4/11 after 2, 4 min since (18% of 19)
BACK Alvarado back 4/07 after 5, 21 min since (117% of 18)
NEW McCollum 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 31 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Murphy III 30 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Daniels 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restOUT Ingram missed 12 since 3/22, returns tonight: 23 min (71% of 33)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 30 min (152% of 20)
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 4/11, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 14)
BACK Marshall back 4/11 after 2, 4 min since (18% of 19)
BACK Alvarado back 4/07 after 5, 25 min since (136% of 18)
NEW McCollum 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Murphy III 30 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Daniels 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/21 · 6 days' restOUT Marshall missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 16 min (82% of 19)
OUT Hawkins missed 3 since 4/11, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 4/14 after 12, 23 min since (71% of 33)
BACK Nance Jr. back 4/14 after 2, 30 min since (152% of 20)
BACK Alvarado back 4/07 after 5, 24 min since (132% of 18)
BACK Ryan back 4/14 after 2, 2 min since (16% of 14)
NEW Murphy III 30 to 39 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/24 · 2 days' restOUT Hawkins missed 4 since 4/11, returns tonight: 5 min (32% of 17)
BACK Ingram back 4/14 after 12, 30 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Nance Jr. back 4/14 after 2, 25 min since (124% of 20)
BACK Marshall back 4/11 after 2, 10 min since (50% of 19)
BACK Ryan back 4/14 after 2, 2 min since (16% of 14)
NEW Murphy III 30 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Alvarado 18 to 23 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/27 · 2 days' restOUT Ryan missed 2 since 4/21, returns tonight: 2 min (19% of 14)
BACK Ingram back 4/14 after 12, 31 min since (94% of 33)
BACK Nance Jr. back 4/14 after 2, 21 min since (106% of 20)
BACK Marshall back 4/11 after 2, 15 min since (78% of 19)
BACK Hawkins back 4/24 after 4, 5 min since (32% of 17)
NEW Murphy III 30 to 40 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/29 · 1 day's restBACK Ingram back 4/14 after 12, 33 min since (98% of 33)
BACK Nance Jr. back 4/14 after 2, 23 min since (117% of 20)
BACK Marshall back 4/21 after 2, 21 min since (109% of 19)
BACK Hawkins back 4/24 after 4, 4 min since (23% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 4/14 after 2, 2 min since (17% of 14)
NEW Murphy III 30 to 40 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 4/06 · 2 days' restOUT Reddish missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 27 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 21 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 3/31 after 46, 14 min since (79% of 18)
NEW Hayes 12 to 17 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 4/07 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 3 since 4/02, returns tonight: 14 min (67% of 20)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 28 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 22 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 3/31 after 46, 14 min since (79% of 18)
LAL availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 29 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 23 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 4/07 after 3, 14 min since (67% of 20)
BACK Vincent back 3/31 after 46, 14 min since (79% of 18)
NEW Hayes 12 to 18 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 4/12 · 2 days' restOUT Vanderbilt missed 30 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 24 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 4/07 after 3, 12 min since (57% of 20)
NEW Hayes 12 to 20 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 31 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 25 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 4/07 after 3, 12 min since (57% of 20)
NEW Hayes 12 to 18 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 4/20 · 5 days' restOUT Reddish missed 2 since 4/12, not on tonight's roster
OUT Vanderbilt missed 32 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 26 since 2/22, out tonight
NEW Hayes 12 to 18 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 4/22 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 33 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 27 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 4/07 after 3, 12 min since (57% of 20)
NEW Russell 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Hachimura 27 to 32 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 4/25 · 2 days' restOUT Vanderbilt missed 34 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 28 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Christie missed 2 since 4/20, out tonight
NEW Russell 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Hachimura 27 to 33 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 35 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 29 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Christie missed 3 since 4/20, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; McCollum at 30 and Williamson at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Ingram (12 straight), Nance Jr. (2 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; James at 30 and Davis at 24 a game. Without Vanderbilt (31 straight), Wood (25 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 43 percent from three to the Lakers' 36 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 110 a night to the Lakers' 120. Call it New Orleans 118, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
4/07 @ PHX 113-105 — NOP notes
NOP won 113-105. NOP shot 47% (40 of 85) to PHX's 45%, 16 of 39 from three. McCollum led with 31 (12 of 22, 7 of 12 from three); Williamson added 29, Alvarado 15. The hinge was Q2, 37-24: NOP came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 6. McCollum was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
4/09 @ POR 110-100 — NOP notes
NOP won 110-100. NOP shot 41% (36 of 87) to POR's 47%, 11 of 36 from three, and went to the line 29 times to POR's 8 — 27 points from the stripe to their 7. NOP turned it over 9 times to POR's 21. Murphy III led with 31 (9 of 17, 5 of 12 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); McCollum added 29, Williamson 22. The hinge was Q3, 35-23: NOP came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 20. NOP trailed 52-55 at the half and won the second half 58-45. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
4/11 @ SAC 135-123 — NOP notes
NOP won 135-123. NOP shot 57% (49 of 86) to SAC's 55%, 22 of 40 from three. McCollum led with 31 (11 of 18, 9 of 12 from three); Williamson added 31, Murphy III 27. The hinge was Q1, 34-23: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Alvarado was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/12 @ GSW 114-109 — NOP notes
NOP won 114-109. NOP shot 47% (42 of 90) to GSW's 47%, 20 of 38 from three. NOP turned it over 8 times to GSW's 16. The glass went 38-53 against them. McCollum led with 28 (10 of 21, 8 of 13 from three); Williamson added 26, Murphy III 24. The hinge was Q2, 45-22: NOP came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 14. Alvarado was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/14 vs LAL 108-124 — NOP notes
NOP lost 108-124. NOP shot 48% (41 of 86) to LAL's 55%, 15 of 37 from three. NOP turned it over 19 times to LAL's 14, and LAL turned those into 12 steals. McCollum led with 25 (9 of 19, 4 of 9 from three); Jones added 18, Nance Jr. 13. Q4 was theirs, 31-25, the deficit cut from 22 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 99-77 against them. Ingram's -28 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/21 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 26 and Holmgren at 16 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 6 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 44 from three, 19 free throws a game; McCollum at 29 and Williamson at 24 a game. Without Marshall (2 straight), Hawkins (3 straight). 6 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 112. Call it OKC 118, New Orleans 110.
4/24 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 96, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 26 and Holmgren at 15 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; McCollum at 27 and Murphy III at 23 a game. Without Hawkins (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 96 a night to New Orleans's 110 and the arc, New Orleans at 42 percent from three to OKC's 37. Call it OKC 116, New Orleans 107.
4/27 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; McCollum at 24 and Williamson at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 93, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 25 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 93 a night to New Orleans's 115 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-4 a night and New Orleans minus-0. Call it OKC 116, New Orleans 108.
4/29 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 15 free throws a game; McCollum at 21 and Ingram at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 92, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 25 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 92 a night to New Orleans's 111 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it OKC 114, New Orleans 105.
4/06 vs CLE 116-97 — LAL notes
LAL won 116-97. LAL shot 56% (45 of 80) to CLE's 43%, 16 of 37 from three. Russell led with 28 (11 of 17, 6 of 12 from three); James added 24, Davis 22. The hinge was Q4, 26-19: a lead of 12 became 19. Prince was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
4/07 vs MIN 117-127 — LAL notes
LAL lost 117-127. LAL shot 46% (39 of 84) to MIN's 52%, 11 of 31 from three, and went to the line 32 times to MIN's 14 — 28 points from the stripe to their 12. Hachimura led with 30 (11 of 17, 4 of 5 from three); Hayes added 19, Dinwiddie 18. Q3 was theirs, 28-23, the deficit cut from 15 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 104-89 against them. Prince's -22 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/09 vs GSW 120-134 — LAL notes
LAL lost 120-134. LAL took 16 more shots (96 to 80), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to GSW's 59%, 12 of 35 from three. LAL turned it over 7 times to GSW's 15. James led with 33 (14 of 22, 1 of 3 from three); Reaves added 22, Hachimura 20. Q4 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 17 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 106-89 against them. Prince's -18 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 @ MEM 123-120 — LAL notes
LAL won 123-120. LAL shot 52% (42 of 81) to MEM's 45%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 34 times to MEM's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 17. LAL turned it over 19 times to MEM's 13, and MEM turned those into 14 steals. James led with 37 (13 of 20, 3 of 7 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Davis added 36, Hachimura 14. The hinge was Q1, 34-26: from level to 8 ahead. Vincent was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
4/14 @ NOP 124-108 — LAL notes
LAL won 124-108. LAL shot 55% (48 of 87) to NOP's 48%, 11 of 29 from three. LAL turned it over 14 times to NOP's 19. Davis led with 30 (13 of 17); James added 28, Reaves 20. The hinge was Q2, 40-29: a lead of 6 became 17, and the lead reached 32. Russell was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
4/20 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 109, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 24 a game. 5 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; James at 30 and Davis at 23 a game. Without Reddish (2 straight), Vanderbilt (32 straight), Wood (26 straight). 5 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 25 free throws a game to Denver's 17 and the defense, Denver allowing 109 a night to the Lakers' 117. Call it Denver 119, the Lakers 113.
4/22 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 15 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 25 a game. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; James at 31 and Davis at 26 a game. Without Vanderbilt (33 straight), Wood (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to the Lakers' 121 and the line, where the Lakers take 25 free throws a game to Denver's 15. Call it Denver 119, the Lakers 112.
4/25 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Davis at 32 and James at 30 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Vanderbilt (34 straight), Wood (28 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the defense, Denver allowing 108 a night to the Lakers' 115. Call it the Lakers 115, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
4/27 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Davis at 33 and James at 29 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Vanderbilt (35 straight), Wood (29 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 30 from three, 16 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and the Lakers minus-6 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 13 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it the Lakers 114, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
CZ C. Zeller
DD D. Daniels
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JR J. Robinson-Earl
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
TM T. Murphy III
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
LALAD A. Davis
AR A. Reaves
CC C. Castleton
DR D. Russell
GV G. Vincent
HG H. Giles III
JH J. Hayes
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
ML M. Lewis
RH R. Hachimura
SD S. Dinwiddie
SM S. Mays
TP T. Prince
NOP/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
LeBron James' triple-double lifts Lakers over Pelicans and into a play-in rematch with New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS -- — LeBron James closed out his 21st NBA regular season looking invigorated, formidable on both ends of the court and ready to produce in the postseason.
James had 28 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds and five steals, and the Los Angeles Lakers claimed the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a 124-108 victory over New Orleans on Sunday that dropped the Pelicans out of a coveted top-six seeding.
“I just want to win. So, whatever the game presents itself for me to be," said James, who also serves as a primary defender on Pelicans star power forward Zion Williamson . "I am a Swiss army knife. I’ve got to do it all on the floor, but none of it is predetermined.”
Anthony Davis had 30 points and 11 rebounds against the team that made him the first overall NBA draft choice in 2012 to help set up a rematch on Tuesday night in the same arena in the conference play-in.
Davis, who asked out of the game in the final minutes and walked gingerly back to the locker room holding his lower back, said his back “locked up” when he was shoved from behind while in the air, but added that his ailment was “nothing concerning.”
“There’s no doubt that I’m going to play" in Tuesday's play-in game, Davis said. "Get some massages, get some treatment, just keep it loose. Just see how I feel over the next 36 hours and be ready.”
James' triple-double was his fifth this season and his playmaking helped spearhead a dominant performance in the paint, where Los Angeles outscored New Orleans 68-42.
“They got whatever they wanted in the paint,” Williamson said. "They dominated us in the paint.
James said he set out to “read the game and just find my teammates.”
“Just try to put the ball on time and on target for either jump shots or guys at the rim,” James added. "Just trying to be very efficient with my play.”
James also helped hold Williamson, who averages a Pelicans-leading 23 points per game, to 12 points.
“He’s a beast. It’s almost impossible to stop him," James said of Williamson. "So, just try to keep a body on him and just try to make it tough on him.”
Williamson, meanwhile, criticized himself for “being too passive.”
“I don't think I was super aggressive the whole game,” he said.
Austin Reaves scored 20 points and D'Angelo Russell scored 19 for the Lakers, who won eight of their final 11 regular-season games.
CJ McCollum scored 23 for the Pelicans, who were coming off a four-game road winning streak and welcomed high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram back into the lineup, only to fall flat at home while trying to lock up a No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in.
Instead, the matchup was reminiscent of the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinal in Las Vegas in December, when the Lakers embarrassed the Pelicans 133-89.
“They punched us right in the mouth and they kept going,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “We let a really good opportunity slip away.”
Ingram, who had missed the previous 12 games with a left knee contusion, scored 13 points. Herb Jones added 18 points for New Orleans.
After Ingram's 3 pulled the Pelicans to 28-24 at the first-quarter horn, the Lakers went to the foul line because of an apparent officiating error.
Official John Goble announced that Los Angeles mistakenly was not granted free throws on the Pelicans' second foul in the last two minutes of the period. Taurean Prince made both.
The Lakers then opened the second quarter with Prince's driving layup to make it 32-24. A reverse layup by James then sparked a 9-0 run to make it 41-26.
While New Orleans was missing 14 of its first 19 from deep, the Lakers were snagging long rebounds and converting in transition.
Reaves' 3-pointer and his breakaway dunk gave the Lakers their first 20-point lead at 53-33. Another Reaves 3 made it 70-53.
The Lakers opened the third period with a 3 by Reaves, two more from deep by Russell and a cutting dunk by Davis that made it 83-57.
Another Russell 3 gave the Lakers their largest lead at 91-59.
“We’ve got to regroup as a team because we’re here now," Williamson said. “We didn't get the result we wanted, but our confidence is still there.”
UP NEXT
It's a higher-stakes rematch in the same arena on Tuesday night, with the winner capturing the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The loser hosts another play-in game against the winner of a matchup between the ninth-seeded Sacramento Kings and 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors .