Game ID: 22400890
New Orleans Pelicans @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 36 33 33 34 136NOP 23 36 25 31 115
LAL vs NOP ScoutingLAL vs 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.
LAL availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Reddish missed 10 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 13 min since (70% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 11 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 4 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 12 min since (67% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 12 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 5 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Len missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 22 min (214% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 13 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 6 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 8 min (78% of 11)
OUT Len missed 3 since 2/25, out tonight
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 13 min since (128% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 14 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 7 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Len missed 4 since 2/25, returns tonight: 4 min (43% of 10)
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 8 min since (78% of 11)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 20 min since (196% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 32 min (91% of 35)
OUT Hachimura missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 15 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 8 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 14 min since (125% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/04 after 4, 4 min since (43% of 10)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 19 min since (185% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 4 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 16 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 3 since 3/02, returns tonight: 16 min (91% of 17)
OUT Morris missed 9 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 3/06 after 2, 32 min since (91% of 35)
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 14 min since (125% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/04 after 4, 4 min since (43% of 10)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 18 min since (172% of 10)
NEW Hayes 19 to 26 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 5 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 17 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 10 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 2 since 3/06, returns tonight: 6 min (52% of 11)
OUT Len missed 2 since 3/06, returns tonight: 13 min (127% of 10)
BACK Reaves back 3/06 after 2, 35 min since (100% of 35)
BACK Goodwin back 3/08 after 3, 16 min since (91% of 17)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 15 min since (149% of 10)
NEW Finney-Smith 29 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Hayes 19 to 27 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Hachimura missed 6 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 18 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 11 since 2/19, returns tonight: 12 min (77% of 16)
BACK Reaves back 3/06 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Goodwin back 3/08 after 3, 20 min since (115% of 17)
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 11 min since (101% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/04 after 4, 9 min since (85% of 10)
NEW Finney-Smith 29 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Vincent 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Knecht 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 19 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 5 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 35 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (96% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 20 since 1/10, not on tonight's roster
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 6 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 36 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 5 since 2/12, returns tonight: 10 min (73% of 14)
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (94% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Brooks Jr. missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 7 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 37 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (94% of 25)
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 10 min since (73% of 14)
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 8 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 38 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 25 min since (97% of 25)
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 11 min since (81% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 9 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 39 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 11 min since (81% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 10 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 40 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 11 since 2/10, not on tonight's roster
OUT Payton missed 41 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/09 · back-to-backOUT Brooks Jr. missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 42 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 4 since 3/02, returns tonight: 22 min (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 43 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 22 min since (147% of 15)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 26 and James at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Hachimura (2 straight), Reddish (14 straight), Morris (7 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Williamson at 23 and Murphy III at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (8 straight), Boston (9 straight), Payton (39 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 112 and the line, where the Lakers take 27 free throws a game to New Orleans's 18. Call it the Lakers 115, New Orleans 109.
2/25 vs DAL 107-99 — LAL notes
LAL won 107-99. LAL shot 45% (39 of 87) to DAL's 36%, 11 of 40 from three, and went to the line 24 times to DAL's 13 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 57-45 for them. James led with 27 (11 of 17, 2 of 4 from three); Reaves added 20, Dončić 19. The hinge was Q1, 28-20: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/27 vs MIN 111-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 111-102. LAL shot 41% (34 of 82) to MIN's 42%, 11 of 41 from three, and went to the line 46 times to MIN's 26 — 32 points from the stripe to their 20. The glass went 52-41 for them. James led with 33 (11 of 21, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 23, Dončić 21. The hinge was Q1, 33-17: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/28 vs LAC 106-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 106-102. LAL shot 49% (39 of 80) to LAC's 45%, 11 of 33 from three. Dončić led with 31 (9 of 22, 3 of 9 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); James added 28. The hinge was Q2, 35-29: LAL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 5. Vanderbilt was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/02 vs LAC 108-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 108-102. LAL shot 49% (38 of 77) to LAC's 43%, 18 of 42 from three. Dončić led with 29 (9 of 17, 5 of 12 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Knecht added 19, James 17. The hinge was Q2, 22-15: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 21. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/04 vs NOP 136-115 — LAL notes
LAL won 136-115. LAL shot 53% (48 of 90) to NOP's 49%, 19 of 52 from three, and went to the line 27 times to NOP's 21 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. LAL turned it over 14 times to NOP's 9, and NOP turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 51-35 for them. L. James led with 34 (10 of 18, 5 of 10 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Dončić added 30, Hayes 19. The hinge was Q1, 36-23: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
3/06 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 104, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; James at 28 and Dončić at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reaves (2 straight), Hachimura (3 straight), Reddish (15 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Anunoby at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and New York minus-3 and the line, where the Lakers take 28 free throws a game to New York's 17. Call it the Lakers 114, New York 110, New York keeping it close.
3/08 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Holiday (4 straight), Porziņģis (4 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hachimura (4 straight), Reddish (16 straight), Goodwin (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 29 free throws a game to Boston's 18 and the arc, Boston at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 35. Call it Boston 113, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/10 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 23 free throws a game; Thomas at 20 and C. Johnson at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Evbuomwan (5 straight), Etienne (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (5 straight), Reddish (17 straight), Morris (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-3 a night and Brooklyn minus-6 and the arc, the Lakers at 36 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29. Call it the Lakers 112, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
3/13 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 29 and Lillard at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Portis (11 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (6 straight), Hayes (2 straight), Reddish (18 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-9 a night and the Lakers plus-4. Call it Milwaukee 114, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/25 vs SAS 109-103 — NOP notes
NOP won 109-103. NOP shot 44% (41 of 94) to SAS's 41%, 7 of 31 from three, and went to the line 25 times to SAS's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 14. Murphy III led with 24 (9 of 21, 3 of 10 from three); Williamson added 18, McCollum 13. The hinge was Q2, 33-21: the deficit went from 14 to 2. NOP trailed 49-51 at the half and won the second half 60-52. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/27 @ PHX 124-116 — NOP notes
NOP won 124-116. NOP shot 48% (50 of 104) to PHX's 47%, 17 of 47 from three. Williamson led with 27 (13 of 17); McCollum added 19, Murphy III 18. The hinge was Q4, 36-25: NOP came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 18. NOP trailed 61-62 at the half and won the second half 63-54. Hawkins was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/28 @ PHX 108-125 — NOP notes
NOP lost 108-125. NOP took 8 more shots (87 to 79), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to PHX's 59%, 11 of 28 from three. Hawkins led with 24 (10 of 17, 3 of 7 from three); Missi added 24, Olynyk 11. Q4 was theirs, 38-33, the deficit cut from 22 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 92-70 against them. Murphy III's -19 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 @ UTA 128-121 — NOP notes
NOP won 128-121. NOP shot 52% (53 of 102) to UTA's 48%, 15 of 44 from three. Olynyk led with 26 (10 of 14, 3 of 4 from three); McCollum added 25, Williamson 24. The hinge was Q4, 37-30: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 18.
3/04 @ LAL 115-136 — NOP notes
NOP lost 115-136. NOP shot 49% (46 of 93) to LAL's 53%, 9 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to LAL's 27. NOP turned it over 9 times to LAL's 14. The glass went 35-51 against them. Williamson led with 37 (17 of 23, 3 of 6 at the line); Murphy III added 19, Hawkins 17. Q2 was theirs, 36-33, the deficit cut from 13 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 103-79 against them. Murphy III's -29 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (9 straight), Boston (10 straight), Payton (40 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans minus-0 and the defense, Houston allowing 114 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it New Orleans 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/08 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and Murphy III at 19 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (10 straight), Boston (11 straight), Payton (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 11. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 111.
3/09 vs MEM — 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 113 a night and allowing 127, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Murphy III at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Brooks Jr. (11 straight), Payton (42 straight), Reeves (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 21 free throws a game; Morant at 27 and Bane at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Jackson Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans minus-3 and the arc, New Orleans at 34 percent from three to Memphis's 29. Call it Memphis 122, New Orleans 116.
3/11 vs LAC — 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 112 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Murphy III at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (12 straight), Payton (43 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Harden at 28 and Leonard at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Powell (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to New Orleans's 124. Call it the Clippers 115, New Orleans 112, New Orleans keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALBJ B. James
DF D. Finney-Smith
DK D. Knecht
GV G. Vincent
JH J. Hayes
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
SM S. Milton
TJ T. Jemison III
NOPBB B. Brown
CM C. McCollum
JA J. Alvarado
JC J. Cain
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
KM K. Matković
KO K. Olynyk
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
LAL/NOP 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 scores 34 after historic 50,000th point, and Lakers beat Pelicans 136-115 for 7th straight W
LOS ANGELES -- — LeBron James finished with 34 points and became the first player to score 50,000 combined points in the regular season and playoffs, and the Los Angeles Lakers extended their longest winning streak in four years to seven games with a 136-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.
Luka Doncic had 30 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who have won 17 of 20 to move into second place in the Western Conference at 39-21. Jaxson Hayes had a season-high 19 points and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles won its second straight without injured starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura .
Zion Williamson scored 37 points for the 14th-place Pelicans, who went 2-2 on an encouraging road trip. Trey Murphy III added 19 points.
James surpassed his latest milestone with a 3-pointer early in the first quarter. Lakers fans gave a standing ovation moments later to James, who acknowledged it with a wave of his hand.
Bronny James played the final 4:01, scoring two points in his first NBA action since Feb. 12.
Takeaways Pelicans: Williamson was outstanding, going 17 of 23 from the floor and adding six assists. New Orleans will feel good about its offensive performance against the NBA's top defensive team in recent weeks.
Lakers: Almost everything is working. They're 11-2 since acquiring Doncic and 7-2 with the Slovenian superstar in uniform. Four supporting players scored at least eight points in the absences of Hachimura and Reaves.
Key moment Doncic’s 17 points in the first were his most in a quarter this season. The barrage was highlighted by 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions.
Key stat James is the only player in NBA history to top 45,000 combined points, let alone 50,000. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is second with 44,149.
Up next The Pelicans host the Rockets on Thursday night, and the Lakers finish a six-game homestand against the Knicks.