Pelicans (7-12), Lakers (9-10)
When the Lakers and Pelicans met Nov. 12 in the Smoothie King Center, Jrue Holiday wasn’t yet in uniform for New Orleans, still days away from making his season debut. On Tuesday, Holiday made his first start of 2016-17. The difference in the two games was drastic.
After Los Angeles rolled to a 27-point victory earlier this month, New Orleans pounded the visiting Lakers this time, building a 28-point edge in the third quarter and getting some payback for the dispiriting head-to-head defeat. The Pelicans continued their recent excellence at home, winning for the fifth consecutive time in Smoothie King Center (the previous victories came against Boston, Portland, Charlotte, Minnesota).