NEW ORLEANS -- — LeBron James scored 30 points, Luca Doncic capped his 30-point, 10-assist performance with a pair of off-balance, bail-out 3s as the shot clock wound down, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the reeling New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Tuesday night.

Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the fourth time in their past five games while sending the Pelicans to their eighth straight loss.

Trey Murphy scored a career-high 41, Zion Williamson scored 15 points and rookie Derik Queen had 10 points and 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which led by as many as nine points late in the third quarter.

The Lakers opened the fourth quarter on a 18-4 run that included two deep 3s by James, a 3 by Dalton Knecht and a pair of baskets in the paint by Ayton. The surge put Los Angeles up 97-90 and the Pelicans could not get closer than four after that.

Neither team led by more than seven until Karlo Matkovic's free throws gave New Orleans an 83-74 lead late in the third quarter.

James' three free throws and breakaway dunk quickly trimmed the Lakers' deficit to four before Murphy, who had 20 points in the third quarter, hit a driving reverse scoop as he was fouled to make it 86-79 heading to the final period.

Herb Jones, returning from a right ankle injury that has sidelined him seven games, struggled with his shooting, missing eight of nine shots. The Pelicans missed five of their 18 free throws, with Williamson missing four.

The Lakers also finished shooting 50.6% (43 of 85). The Pelicans shot 44% (40 of 91) and missed 30 of the 40 3-pointers they attempted.

Up next

Both clubs play on Wednesday night, when the Lakers visit the San Antonio Spurs and the Pelicans visit the Atlanta Hawks.

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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Deandre Ayton vs. Derik Queen (LeBron James gains possession)	0	0
11:41	LeBron James makes dunk (Deandre Ayton assists)	0	2
11:18	Zion Williamson misses driving layup	0	2
11:16	LeBron James defensive rebound	0	2
11:13	Deandre Ayton makes 2-foot running dunk (LeBron James assists)	0	4
10:54	Jeremiah Fears makes driving layup	2	4
10:34	Deandre Ayton misses driving floating jump shot	2	4
10:31	Jeremiah Fears defensive rebound	2	4
10:25	Derik Queen misses 19-foot pullup jump shot	2	4
10:21	Trey Murphy III offensive rebound	2	4
10:14	Jeremiah Fears misses 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	2	4
10:11	Luka Doncic defensive rebound	2	4
9:50	LeBron James misses driving layup	2	4
9:49	Deandre Ayton offensive rebound	2	4
9:47	Marcus Smart misses 25-foot three point jumper	2	4
9:42	Derik Queen defensive rebound	2	4
9:38	Herbert Jones misses 23-foot running jump shot	2	4
9:35	Deandre Ayton defensive rebound	2	4
9:27	Luka Doncic misses driving layup	2	4
9:25	Zion Williamson defensive rebound	2	4
9:22	Jeremiah Fears makes 23-foot running jump shot (Trey Murphy III assists)	5	4
9:06	Luka Doncic misses 25-foot three point jumper	5	4
9:04	Derik Queen defensive rebound	5	4
9:00	Deandre Ayton blocks Derik Queen 's 2-foot running layup	5	4
8:58	Jake LaRavia defensive rebound	5	4
8:49	Luka Doncic makes 14-foot fade away jump shot	5	6
8:40	Trey Murphy III makes 27-foot three point jumper (Zion Williamson assists)	8	6
8:26	LeBron James makes 27-foot three point jumper (Luka Doncic assists)	8	9
8:08	Trey Murphy III misses 23-foot three point jumper	8	9
8:05	LeBron James defensive rebound	8	9
7:59	Luka Doncic misses 27-foot three point jumper	8	9
7:55	Herbert Jones defensive rebound	8	9
7:46	Jake LaRavia personal foul	8	9
7:46	Yves Missi enters the game for Derik Queen	8	9
7:32	Yves Missi makes 1-foot two point shot (Zion Williamson assists)	10	9
7:19	Marcus Smart makes 23-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists)	10	12
7:07	LeBron James blocks Zion Williamson 's 5-foot driving layup	10	12
7:03	Yves Missi offensive rebound	10	12
6:57	Jeremiah Fears makes 21-foot pullup jump shot	12	12
6:50	Marcus Smart makes layup (Luka Doncic assists)	12	14
6:50	Yves Missi defensive goaltending violation	12	14
6:36	Jeremiah Fears misses 25-foot three point jumper	12	14
6:36	LeBron James defensive rebound	12	14
6:22	LeBron James makes 11-foot fade away jump shot	12	16
6:16	Marcus Smart personal foul	12	16
6:16	Pelicans Full timeout	12	16
6:16	Jarred Vanderbilt enters the game for LeBron James	12	16
6:05	Herbert Jones misses layup	12	16
6:01	Zion Williamson offensive rebound	12	16
6:01	Zion Williamson makes tip in dunk	14	16
5:39	Marcus Smart misses 25-foot three point jumper	14	16
5:36	Deandre Ayton offensive rebound	14	16
5:33	Luka Doncic makes 15-foot pullup jump shot (Deandre Ayton assists)	14	18
5:33	Herbert Jones shooting foul	14	18
5:33	Luka Doncic makes free throw 1 of 1	14	19
5:23	Herbert Jones makes 26-foot three pointer (Jeremiah Fears assists)	17	19
5:08	Herbert Jones shooting foul	17	19
5:08	Karlo Matkovic enters the game for Jeremiah Fears	17	19
5:08	Jordan Poole enters the game for Zion Williamson	17	19
5:08	Jose Alvarado enters the game for Herbert Jones	17	19
4:59	Deandre Ayton makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Luka Doncic assists)	17	21
4:47	Jordan Poole bad pass turnover (Jarred Vanderbilt steals)	17	21
4:43	Jarred Vanderbilt makes running layup	17	23
4:26	Trey Murphy III misses 23-foot three point jumper	17	23
4:23	Jake LaRavia defensive rebound	17	23
4:14	Luka Doncic misses 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	17	23
4:10	Jose Alvarado defensive rebound	17	23
4:07	Karlo Matkovic makes running dunk (Jose Alvarado assists)	19	23
3:50	Luka Doncic makes 12-foot pullup jump shot	19	25
3:37	Jose Alvarado misses 22-foot three point jumper	19	25
3:35	Deandre Ayton defensive rebound	19	25
3:25	Luka Doncic out of bounds bad pass turnover	19	25
3:25	Nick Smith Jr. enters the game for Deandre Ayton	19	25
3:25	Jaxson Hayes enters the game for Marcus Smart	19	25
3:20	Jaxson Hayes shooting foul	19	25
3:20	Yves Missi makes free throw 1 of 2	20	25
3:20	Yves Missi makes free throw 2 of 2	21	25
3:07	Luka Doncic makes driving layup	21	27
2:56	Trey Murphy III misses 23-foot three point jumper	21	27
2:56	Lakers defensive team rebound	21	27
2:56	Micah Peavy enters the game for Trey Murphy III	21	27
2:56	Lakers Full timeout	21	27
2:56	Dalton Knecht enters the game for Jake LaRavia	21	27
2:33	Nick Smith Jr. misses 28-foot three point jumper	21	27
2:28	Yves Missi defensive rebound	21	27
2:09	Jose Alvarado misses 26-foot three point jumper	21	27
2:06	Yves Missi offensive rebound	21	27
2:04	Yves Missi makes two point shot	23	27
1:50	Jarred Vanderbilt misses 23-foot three point jumper	23	27
1:47	Jose Alvarado defensive rebound	23	27
1:42	Yves Missi misses running layup	23	27
1:41	Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound	23	27
1:39	Luka Doncic makes running layup (Jarred Vanderbilt assists)	23	29
1:39	Karlo Matkovic defensive goaltending violation	23	29
1:21	Jordan Poole bad pass turnover (Jaxson Hayes steals)	23	29
1:09	Luka Doncic misses 29-foot three point jumper	23	29
1:08	Pelicans defensive team rebound	23	29
1:08	LeBron James enters the game for Luka Doncic	23	29
58.8	Karlo Matkovic makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Jose Alvarado assists)	25	29
40.9	LeBron James misses 12-foot fade away jump shot	25	29
37.1	Jordan Poole defensive rebound	25	29
30.4	Jordan Poole misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	25	29
27.6	Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound	25	29
14.1	Nick Smith Jr. offensive foul	25	29
14.1	Nick Smith Jr. offensive foul turnover	25	29
14.1	Trey Murphy III enters the game for Yves Missi	25	29
0.9	Jordan Poole misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot	25	29
0.9	Pelicans offensive team rebound	25	29
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	25	29

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Smoothie King Center

New Orleans, LA

Date & Time

1:00 AM, January 7, 2026

Coverage

Spectrum Sports Net, GCSEN, Pelicans.com, Spectrum Sports Net +, NBA League Pass

Attendance

18,227

Referees

Tyler Ford, Mousa Dagher, Pat O'Connell

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
LA Lakers	38	25	.603	W1
Phoenix	36	27	.571	W1
Golden State	32	30	.516	W1
LA Clippers	30	32	.484	L1
Sacramento	14	50	.219	L3

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	46	17	.730	W3
Houston	39	23	.629	W1
Memphis	23	38	.377	L2
Dallas	21	42	.333	L6
New Orleans	20	45	.308	L1

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James and Doncic each score 30 to help the Lakers hold off the Pelicans 111-103

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