The Los Angeles Lakers managed to secure a hard-fought victory against the New Orleans Pelicans, improving their record to 9-4 and marking their fifth consecutive win. While the game was certainly not a masterpiece, the Lakers displayed resilience, particularly in the second half, overcoming a rough start.

Both teams entered the game dealing with significant injuries. The Lakers were missing key players like Christian Wood, Jared Vanderbilt, Jackson Hayes, Cam Reddish, and Rui Hachimura. Hachimura sat out for the second straight game, while Reddish missed his first game of the season. The Pelicans faced similar challenges, with stars like DeJonte Murray, Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, and Trey Murphy all sidelined. Despite this, Brandon Ingram stood out for New Orleans, making the game even more challenging for the Lakers.

In the first half, the Lakers struggled to find their rhythm, appearing fatigued after a tough game the night before. They fell behind by nearly 20 points and were out-rebounded significantly, giving up 12 offensive rebounds and being out-rebounded 37 to 25 overall. This lack of energy and poor rebounding often leads to difficult games, and it was evident in the first half. The Pelicans capitalized on this, especially from their bench, scoring 19 points against the Lakers’ struggling second unit.

Brandon Ingram dominated the early stages, scoring 18 points in the first half, with Gabe Vincent providing some defensive resistance but not enough to contain Ingram completely.

However, the tide began to turn in the second half, thanks in large part to rookie Dalton Kinnard, who exploded for a career-high 27 points. His energy was infectious, and he scored 11 of those points in the third quarter alone, helping the Lakers cut the deficit and eventually take a lead. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while not at their best, benefited from Kinnard’s contributions, allowing them to find their footing.

Davis had a standout second half, finishing the game with 31 points and 14 rebounds, including multiple three-pointers. He has been on a hot streak, shooting 40% from beyond the arc this season. LeBron, after a slow start, also came alive late in the game, hitting two crucial three-pointers that helped secure the win.

Overall, while the game was far from pretty, the Lakers can take pride in their ability to grind out a victory on the road, especially given their injury woes. Kinnard’s performance was particularly impressive for a rookie stepping into a starting role, and his energy played a crucial role in the team’s success.

As the Lakers continue their season, they will need to build on the resilience displayed in this game, finding ways to maintain their momentum despite ongoing challenges. With their best start since the 2019-2020 season, there is optimism moving forward, even in the face of adversity.