|
 Los Angeles guard Lou Williams scored 19 points, handed out eight
assists and hit a crucial basket with the game on the line, and the
Lakers snapped a four-game skid with a 95-91 victory over the
Pelicans at Staples Center.
Gentry fumed about the Pelicans' performance, but he was more upset
that his players seemed unfocused and even cavalier throughout the
game.
"There's no soul-searching," Gentry said. "You just have to decide
if you are going to play hard every night and if we want to have a
good team. That's the bottom line. It doesn't involve
soul-searching. It involves looking in the mirror and being able to
say, 'I gave the best effort that I could tonight.' That's not what
we are getting."
New Orleans played without forward Anthony Davis for the second
consecutive game due to a back contusion, an injury he sustained
while diving in the stands chasing a loose ball Friday in a loss to
the Indiana Pacers.
The Pelicans (11-26) are 0-5 without Davis. Gentry, though, said
Davis' absence had no bearing on Tuesday's outcome.
"It's about playing hard and competing, that's what it's about," the
coach said. "If we play hard and compete and then we don't have
enough talent, then we will talk about that. But until you play
hard, that is the very first thing you check off the list."
Guard Jordan Clarkson added 18 points for Los Angeles, while backup
point guard D'Angelo Russell chipped in 13 points. The Lakers (9-31)
won despite shooting just 36.8 percent to 41.8 percent for the
Pelicans.
"We got stops down the stretch," said Williams, who missed 10 of his
14 field-goal attempts and seven of eight from 3-point range but
made up for it by hitting all 10 of his free throws. "Guys started
picking up the pace and being more assertive on the offensive end. I
just think the last six minutes we did a great job on both ends of
the floor."
Guard Tyreke Evans had 21 points to lead the Pelicans, who dropped
their fourth in a row. Forward Ryan Anderson contributed 15 points
and seven rebounds, while guards Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday scored
14 points apiece.
"I think when the time came down to it, we didn't connect and hit
shots, and they did," said Holiday, who made seven of 18 from the
floor and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.
Asked about the Pelicans' effort, Holiday shrugged.
"I think we're all pretty upset on how we played," Holiday said.
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Meanwhile, Lakers forward Kobe Bryant returned from a one-game
absence only to depart before halftime. Bryant was forced out of the
game with 2:42 remaining in the second quarter due to a sore right
Achilles tendon, and he did not return. It is the same injury that
kept him out of the Lakers' loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
In 16 minutes, Bryant finished with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting,
missing all five of his 3-point attempts.
The Lakers took only their second lead of the game at 90-89 on a
jumper by Williams with 1:16 remaining in the contest. After
Holiday's layup gave New Orleans the lead again, the Lakers snatched
it back on forward Julius Randle's basket inside with 43.3 seconds
remaining. That turned out to be the difference.
Williams' floater in the lane with 18.5 seconds left made it 94-91
for Los Angeles.
Evans' 3-point attempt with 6.9 seconds left missed the mark, and
Randle followed by making one of two free throws to seal the win.
The Lakers benefitted from a disparity in free throws, making 25 of
32 foul shots to only nine of 14 for the Pelicans.
"We kept getting to the line, kept attacking the basket," said
Clarkson, who converted seven of nine free throws.
NOTES: Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry took a cautious approach with F
Anthony Davis (back contusion). "Maybe if it was a playoff game,
we'd stick him out there, but I just don't see a reason to risk
anything or for him to overcompensate for something. We'll just what
happens (Wednesday) night," Gentry said. The Pelicans travel to
Sacramento to face the Kings on Wednesday. ... Lakers F Kobe Bryant,
who missed eight games this season due to injury or rest, was
averaging 22.0 points on 47 percent shooting with 4.3 assists and
3.3 rebounds in previous games after sitting out. His 3-point
accuracy had not recovered, though. Bryant managed just 25 percent.
... The Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.
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