Several times during the game it looked as if the New Orleans Pelicans (25-33) were going to get blown out of the gym. The game started with a 14-2 Lakers’ run, none of the Pelicans’ shots were falling and they looked overwhelmed. It would have been easy for them to put their heads down and slink out of the Staples Center, but the Pelicans kept battling back and eventually regained the lead late in the third quarter.
Unfortunately for the Pelicans, the Lakers (44-12) have this guy called LeBron James, who put together a spectacular performance, almost as a way to say to Zion Williamson, “not yet, son.