Playing without JaVale McGee for a third consecutive game, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton turned to Ivica Zubac to help combat the New Orleans Pelicans’ twin towers in Anthony Davis and Julius Randle.
Tyson Chandler had started the previous two games McGee missed, which in no fault of only his, were back-to-back losses for the Lakers. Davis had another monster performance for the Pelicans, registering game-highs with 30 points and 20 rebounds, and Randle had 18 points and 9 rebounds.
But Zubac held his own, establishing an early rhythm with LeBron James and connecting on his first five field goal attempts.