Brandon Ingram scored 35 points (16 in the second quarter), and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Lakers 131-126 to end a 10-game losing streak.
Ingram’s floater put the Pelicans ahead for good with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers got within 122-121 on LeBron James’ free throw with 3:30 to play, but CJ McCollum answered with a 3-pointer, and the Lakers got no closer.
During clutch time, the Pelicans outscored the Lakers 10-3. Ingram scored 6 of the Pelicans’ 10 on 2 for 5 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line. In the fourth quarter, McCollum had 4 of his 7 assists, 2 of them on baskets by Trey Murphy III and Ingram that put the Pelicans ahead. In that stretch, Herbert Jones had 2 of his 4 steals, 1 of them during an 8-0 Pelicans run, and the Pelicans scored 3 points off them.
McCollum had 23 points and 7 assists. Murphy added 21 points, and Jonas Valančiūnas had 18 points (16 in the paint) and 14 rebounds on 9 for 13 shooting. The Pelicans had 3 20-point scorers.
For the Lakers, Anthony Davis had 34 points and 14 rebounds. James had 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists but went 1 for 7 from 3.
The Pelicans shot 52.0% from the field to the Lakers’ 47.9%.