Below is a running diary of the Lakers’ matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, with comments drawn from Mike Trudell’s @LakersReporter Twitter account, to ensure you’re covered from start to finish.
First Quarter
LAL start this game on an 11-2 run, with Julius Randle’s and-1 giving him 3 point with 3 boards. Clarkson and Kobe have 4 points apiece.
Make that 4 of 5 from Kobe, whose latest jumper gave him 8 points. Williams added his 1st FG, and LAL lead 17-6.
NOP ended the 1st Q on a 16-2 run, LAL’s bench hitting 1 of 5 FG’s after Kobe, Randle and Clarkson went a combined 11 for 16.
Second Quarter
LAL’s starters – Russell in for Williams – continued their strong start to the game in this 2nd Q stretch, putting LAL back up 10.
Clarkson’s perfect from the field, hitting all 7 of his attempts (2 triples) to lead LAL w/16 points. Kobe has 13 in a 57-46 LAL lead.
Julius Randle closed the half with a tough bucket through traffic to beat the shot clock, putting LAL up 59-48. Randle had 9/6/2.
Third Quarter
Jordan Clarkson’s still perfect, hitting his 8th straight shot to reach 18 points, LAL up 61-50. Kobe has 13 points, 9 boards meanwhile.
A Williams-to-Bass alley-oop closed the 3rd for LAL, who maintain a 79-69 lead into the 4th Q.
Anthony Davis is scoring easily for New Orleans, 13 for 21 for 31 points, but hasn’t been disruptive on D. Has 1 block, no steals, 6 boards.
Fourth Quarter
It’s a 6-0 Pelicans run to trim LAL’s lead to 85-79 as Kobe returns. Bryant has 15 points, 10 boards, his 2nd double-double.
Kobe Bryant, for the 2nd straight game, hits B2B 4th Q 3’s to cut out a run by the opponent. LAL back up 12, Bryant w/21.
With Russell’s hoop, LAL went up 95-86. NOP got a bucket, but it’s LAL ball, 2:20 to play, up 7.
Kobe dagger 3? 98-92 Lakers, 58.4 left, after Bryant rose and sank his 4th triple, and his 3rd of the quarter. He has 26 and 12.
.@kobebryant catches fire once again with 27 points and a season-high 12 rebounds to lead LA to victory. pic.twitter.com/E95RkqyVe3
