Introduction to the Game
LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic’s hot starts to games aren’t surprising. Entering Sunday as the league’s leading scorer in the first quarter with 12.3 points, it’s almost become customary for Doncic to do heavy lifting for the Lakers early on. And Doncic’s strong start against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night gave the Lakers the boost they needed, with the Lakers beating the Pelicans, 133-121, at Crypto.com Arena for their seventh straight victory.
The Game in Detail
With LeBron James (left foot injury management) not available for the first game of the Lakers’ home back-to-back set, with the team hosting the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, Doncic (34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists) paced the Lakers (15-4) early by recording 20 points in the opening quarter. It was the third time this season, and 14th time in his career, that Doncic scored at least 20 points in the first quarter.
Show Caption
1 of 10
Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) shoots against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
## Team Performance
“Obviously, Luka is one of the best first-quarter players – one of the best players in the league,” teammate Austin Reaves said. “But obviously, first quarter, he comes out and sets a statement so he gets our offense rolling early.” Reaves added 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Deandre Ayton had 22 points (7-of-9 shooting), 12 rebounds and four blocked shots against a short-handed Pelicans team that was without Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Jordan Poole and Herb Jones.
## Key Statistics
Sunday was Ayton’s seventh 20-point, 10-rebound double-double of the season. Ayton’s 71% field goal percentage is the league’s best mark among the 113 players who have played at least 10 games and averaged at least 10 field goal attempts. With Sunday’s performance, Doncic and Reaves became the fourth duo in the league’s last 50 years to each score at least 30 points in three consecutive games. They entered the matchup as the league’s highest-scoring duo, averaging 63.6 points.
## Coach’s Perspective
“He’s always been able to produce,” Coach JJ Redick said of Ayton. “For him, his execution of what we’re trying to do on both ends has been really high, and he’s clearly developed a really good feel for playing with AR and Luka. And I’m really impressed just with his touch. Like when he gets the ball in that pocket, or he collects a loose ball or rebound, or he gets a post up in that sort of like 9- to 12-foot area, just got a great touch. And it’s another weapon we have, him scoring the basketball at a high efficiency in that area.”
## Player Comments
“He draws a lot of attention and then I’m able to play advantage basketball, basically, on the backside of that,” Reaves said. “The gravity that he has on the court, it’s impossible to guard him any certain way because of his ability to pass the ball, his unselfishness and his shot-making ability. Then, once you blitz him, you have advantage basketball and we like our chances. We got a lot of really good looks that we didn’t make, and we still scored 130, so I think this offense can go to another level.”
## Game Summary
Doncic’s hot start helped the Lakers open a 46-27 lead at the end of the first quarter, the most points the Lakers have scored in any quarter this season and tied for fifth-most in a first quarter in franchise history. The Lakers led by as many as 26 (74-48) late in the second, taking a 77-57 lead into the second half. But they took their foot off the gas, especially defensively, with the Pelicans (3-18) scoring 74 second-half points.
## Conclusion
The Lakers’ win over the Pelicans marked their seventh straight victory, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves leading the charge. Despite a strong start, the Lakers took their foot off the gas in the second half, but still managed to maintain a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter. The team’s performance was impressive, with Doncic and Reaves becoming the fourth duo in the league’s last 50 years to each score at least 30 points in three consecutive games.
## FAQs
– Q: Who led the Lakers in scoring against the Pelicans?
A: Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 34 points.
– Q:
