NBA: Luka Doncic, LeBron James score 30 each as Lakers top Pelicans

Luka Doncic and LeBron James each scored 30 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to three games.

Deandre Ayton contributed a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Lakers dominate the fourth quarter 32-17. Doncic also added 10 assists, while James finished with eight rebounds and eight assists.

For New Orleans, Trey Murphy III had a career-high 42 points, but the Pelicans squandered a strong position and suffered their eighth straight loss. Zion Williamson added 15 points, and Derrick Qun posted 10 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.

Doncic scored 11 first-quarter points, and James added seven as Los Angeles built a 29-25 lead after the opening period. The Lakers extended the advantage to 32-25 early in the second quarter with a three-pointer from Dalton Knecht.

However, the Pelicans responded with tight perimeter defense and outperformed Los Angeles for much of the second quarter. Murphy scored 11 points in the frame, and with a tip-in by Yves Missi and a floater by Jose Alvarado in the final seconds, New Orleans took a 54-51 halftime lead.

Doncic had 16 points at the half but struggled from beyond the arc, missing all six of his three-point attempts, while the Lakers shot just 3 of 17 from deep in the first two quarters.

Murphy continued his hot streak in the third quarter, scoring 20 points and linking well with the unselfish Qun to give the Pelicans an 83-74 lead. A steal and windmill dunk from James cut the deficit to four, but Murphy closed the quarter with a three-point play to make it 86-79 heading into the final period.

The Lakers surged in the fourth quarter, opening with a 9-0 run fueled by two three-pointers from James. Alvarado’s three-pointer brought the Pelicans within four with just over three minutes remaining, but James responded with two reverse layups, sandwiching a 31-foot buzzer-beater from Doncic to seal the victory.

New Orleans managed only five field goals and committed seven turnovers in the decisive fourth quarter.

—Field Level Media/Reuters