Lakers’ overpowering 2nd quarter fuels victory over Pelicans
D’Angelo Russell scores 30 points, Austin Reaves adds 27 and the Lakers score 51 of their 87 first-half points during a spectacular second quarter to win for the fourth time in five games, 139-122
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, right, celebrates after making a 3-point shot in front of the New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers scored 87 points before halftime (51 in the second quarter) and rolled to a 139-122 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves controls the ball as New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. shoots as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell takes a shot in front of New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, left, during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers scored 87 points before halftime (51 in the second quarter) and rolled to a 139-122 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson drives as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot in front of New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram shoots as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers forward Taurean Prince controls the ball as New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers scored 87 points before halftime (51 in the second quarter) and rolled to a 139-122 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson shoots as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James is fouled by the New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, is fouled by the New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III as he shoots during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers scored 87 points before halftime (51 in the second quarter) and rolled to a 139-122 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson drives to the basket as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell takes a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell celebrates during the first half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, right, celebrates after making a 3-point shot in front of the New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers scored 87 points before halftime (51 in the second quarter) and rolled to a 139-122 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell celebrates during the first half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram attempts a layup as Lakers forwards Taurean Prince, far left, and Christian Wood defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers forward Taurean Prince handles the ball as the New Orleans Pelicans’ Larry Nance Jr. defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson handles the ball during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura goes up for a dunk during the first half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Actor Will Ferrell sits courtside as he watches during the first half of a game between the Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James takes a shot as the New Orleans Pelicans’ Dyson Daniels defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. attempts a layup during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James takes a shot during the first half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, right, takes a shot as New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, left, shoots from 3-point range as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura dunks as New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, left, watches during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James drives past New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James celebrates during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado handles the ball next to Lakers star Anthony Davis, right, during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes dunks during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson gets to the basket over the Lakers’ LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves, from left, during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, right, shoots from 3-point range as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star Anthony Davis, left, drives as the New Orleans Pelicans’ Larry Nance Jr. defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers forward LeBron James holds the ball as New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram attempts as shot as Lakers forward Taurean Prince defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James looks on during a pause in play in the second half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James smiles between plays during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes celebrates during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James looks on during warmups before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
Lakers star LeBron James looks on before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)
LOS ANGELES — Anyone looking for an example of what the Lakers’ offense can look like when it’s firing on all cylinders, the second quarter of their 139-122 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night had it all.
It also looked like a team playing with the freedom of knowing Thursday’s trade deadline was fully behind them.
D’Angelo Russell (team-high 30 points) was on a heater, scoring 14 straight points early in the second – including four 3-pointers – across two minutes to get the Lakers rolling.
The ball was flying around, with LeBron James (21 points, season-high 14 assists) and Anthony Davis (20 points, six assists) leading the charge as playmakers instead of scorers as they put on an offensive masterclass in their fourth victory in five games.
The result: an overwhelming 51-point second quarter that gave the Lakers an 87-74 halftime lead.
“It was just a testament to playing the game the right way,” said Austin Reaves, who finished with 27 points and four assists. “Making the extra pass. We were getting wide-open looks, to be honest. And when D-Lo sees a couple go in, I mean, I got about a 97% guess rate correct when he’s about to shoot it. I can tell you every time. And I love it. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”
The Lakers’ 51 points in the second were tied for the most points they’ve scored in a quarter in franchise history and their 87 points was the second-highest first-half total in franchise history.
“D-Lo had it going,” Davis said. “Rui (Hachimura) made plays. Any time we’re able to get stops in the paint, transition and play fast and share the basketball, offense starts to click and we can score 51 in a quarter.”
With Reaves and Hachimura (21 points) also surpassing the 20-point threshold, all five Laker starters scored at least 20 points.
“All of us are just sharing the basketball, no matter who scores, as long as the ball goes in the basket,” Davis said. “We’ve been having a lot of high-assist games, so we’ve been moving the basketball and sharing it. And if you’re open shoot, if not, move on to the next player.
“We’ve been doing a good job playing together, playing for each other. And then a result of that, you have guys shooting the ball with confidence and playing with confidence, which leads to five starters for 20-plus.”
The Lakers (28-26) shot 55.7% from the field (49 for 88) and 45.2% from 3-point range (14 for 31), finishing with 32 assists – the 20th time they’ve recorded at least 30 assists.
Even with the Pelicans (30-22) cutting the margin to single digits in the third, the Lakers’ offensive firepower was too much for New Orleans to overcome.
Both teams took their rotation players out with 2:33 left in the game, with the Lakers up 132-117.
Russell – who made six 3-pointers and had five assists – sat out Thursday’s loss to Denver with left knee soreness, but he returned with another impressive effort after averaging 24 points per game in his previous 13 outings. Russell’s improved play in recent weeks was a primary reason for the Lakers’ decision to stand pat at the trade deadline despite sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers made no moves despite hovering around .500 all season, but they’re still seeking help on the buyout market. Spencer Dinwiddie, who was traded by Brooklyn and waived by Toronto this week, watched this game from the stands while seated next to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.
Dinwiddie, who attended Dallas’ game at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, is an L.A. native who starred at Taft High in Woodland Hills. He could provide perimeter shooting for the Lakers if they can sign him. He averaged 12.6 points and six assists in 48 starts for the Nets this season.
“Playmaking, another ball handler, another shot-maker,” James said of what Dinwiddie could add. “Another guy, another veteran. Anytime you can add a veteran with that ability, it helps. So we’ll see what happens.”
Davis gave an endorsement as well.
“He’s a big guard, a shot-maker,” Davis said. “We’ve seen what he did with Brooklyn, what he did with Dallas, making big plays for them. He’s a well-established player, a vet in this league.”
Zion Williamson had 30 points and nine rebounds, and Brandon Ingram added 22 points for the Pelicans, who split two games in downtown Los Angeles to begin their four-game road trip but saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.
The Lakers get a few days off before hosting the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday on the first night of a back-to-back before playing the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.
“I feel nothing. I'm not really thinking about anything… I’ve mentioned flow state a few times… I just kinda get there.” D'Angelo Russell on when he gets in that offensive rhythm. pic.twitter.com/ZujxFP9O7Z
LeBron James discusses the Lakers offensive flow among the starters, D'Angelo Russell's performance and what Spencer Dinwiddie could bring to the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/2AGk5cnKRA
"All of us are just sharing the basketball… we've been doing a good job of playing together, playing for each other and the result of that is you have guys shooting with confidence." Anthony Davis on all five starters scoring 20+ points. pic.twitter.com/EUMgyVOfbA
"If y'all been watching DLo since college I think y'all know what he can do. That's how he can really help our team… you love to see it." Austin Reaves (27 pts, 4 ast) with @LakersReporter on D'Angelo's performance. pic.twitter.com/3TvpIRfmUq
