LeBron, Anthony Davis Get New-look Lakers Past Pelicans

Dennis Schroder (17) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Jonas Valanciunas (17) of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half in Los Angeles on Feb. 15, 2023. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES—LeBron James had 21 points in his first game since becoming the NBA’s career scoring leader, and Anthony Davis had 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the new-look Los Angeles Lakers’ 120–102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night, Feb. 15.

D’Angelo Russell had 21 points and seven assists during his warm welcome home to the Lakers, who won for just the second time in six games. Los Angeles’ five new players all made their home debuts after the club’s busy trade deadline, and the Lakers never trailed.

James took three games off to rest his perpetually sore left ankle and foot immediately after he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record Feb. 7. He returned for the final game before the All-Star weekend in another season that’s threatening to get away from the Lakers, who hit the break in 13th place in the 15-team Western Conference at 27–32.

But the season isn’t over yet, and the Lakers got promising reinforcements. Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley joined James and Davis in the starting lineup, while Mo Bamba fouled out in 16 minutes as the backup center in his Lakers debut.

Russell’s debut was actually a homecoming, because he played his first two NBA seasons in Los Angeles before getting traded four times and eventually returning to the Lakers last week. Russell was clearly thrilled to be back in Hollywood, putting on an impressive playmaking performance while also repeatedly exhorting the crowd to standing ovations for the Lakers.

Brandon Ingram scored 25 points and C.J. McCollum had 22 points and nine assists in his return from a one-game absence with a sprained right ankle for the Pelicans, who lost for only the second time in six games.

Russell, Beasley and Vanderbilt–teammates for the previous two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves–reteamed in in the Lakers’ 30th starting lineup of the 59-game season.

Davis, who went 13 for 17, scored nine points early in the fourth quarter while Los Angeles pulled away in a solid all-around defensive performance. Dennis Schröder added 10 points.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) dunks as New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5), center Jonas Valanciunas (17) and guard Trey Murphy III (25) watch along with guard Malik Beasley (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles., on Feb. 15, 2023. (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)

New Orleans’ Josh Richardson was ejected with 10:52 left in the fourth quarter after arguing vociferously for a foul on James. Richardson had eight points.

Tip-Ins

Pelicans: Zion Williamson attended the game and greeted James during a timeout. He has missed 22 straight games with a strained hamstring, and he is expected to be out for several weeks after the break. Former Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. sat out with left groin soreness.

Lakers: Davon Reed played the final 3 1/2 minutes in his first home game with LA. Bamba had four points, six rebounds and three blocked shots. He had to finish a suspension after Los Angeles got him from Orlando for Patrick Beverley last week. Russell, Ingram and Nance were teammates on the 2016–17 Lakers, who went 26–56 in the first season after Kobe Bryant’s retirement.

Up Next

Pelicans: At Toronto on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Lakers: Host Golden State on Thursday, Feb. 23.

By Greg Beacham