Ingram, Pelicans too much for depleted Lakers

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) shoots a lay up against Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris (88) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Ingram scored 36 points and Zion Williamson added 27 as the host New Orleans Pelicans routed the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 128-111 on Tuesday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 points, Kira Lewis Jr. had 16, Jaxson Hayes had 15 and Steven Adams scored 12 as the Pelicans ended a seven-game losing streak against the Lakers.

Ingram made 14 of 21 shots, Williamson made 9 of 13, Alexander-Walker 7 of 14, Lewis 5 of 9, Hayes 4 of 6, and Adams 6 of 6 as the Pelicans shot 52.2 percent from the floor.

36 POINTS on 14-21 FGM for @B_Ingram13 in the @PelicansNBA win! pic.twitter.com/uhjxUUmaYN

— NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2021

New Orleans won its second straight game despite the absence of point guard Lonzo Ball (hip flexor strain) for both games.

L.A. was playing its second consecutive full game without LeBron James, who suffered a high ankle sprain in a loss to Atlanta on Saturday. The Lakers lost at Phoenix 111-94 on Sunday.

Former Pelicans forward Anthony Davis has missed the last month because of a calf strain and is expected to be re-evaluated Friday by the Lakers.

Montrezl Harrell scored 18 points, Kyle Kuzma had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Markieff Morris scored 16, Dennis Schroder had 15, Wesley Matthews 14 and Alex Caruso 10 for L.A., which shot 42.4 percent.

Ingram had seven points and an assist, and the Pelicans made their first six shots of the third quarter to take a 72-55 lead.

Hayes converted a three-point play, Lewis made back-to-back 3-pointers and Alexander-Walker added a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 96-66.

Ingram had 17 points in the third quarter, which ended with New Orleans holding a 102-76 lead.

The score was tied four times in the first quarter before Williamson scored the final three points. He finished with 10 points and Adams had eight as the Pelicans grabbed a 32-29 lead at the end of the period.

Hayes scored six straight points as New Orleans opened the second quarter on a 9-2 run.

The Pelicans built the lead to as many as 17 points before Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 3-pointer reduced the lead to 59-46 at halftime.

Field Level Media