The Los Angeles Lakers (9-4) used a balanced team effort to improve to 2-0 in the NBA Cup, outlasting the New Orleans Pelicans (2-10) with a 118-104 win on November 15.
Here are the key stats and the top performers of the game.
BEST PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Luka Doncic LAL PG 24 PTS | 7 REB | 12 AST | 56.4 FPS
Luka ran the offense perfectly, posting 20 points and 9 assists in just the first half. He finished with his fourth double-digit assist game this month.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE:
Jeremiah Fears NOP PG 19 PTS | 3 AST | 8 STL | 49.3 FPS
Fears continues to be elite for the Pelicans, scoring in double-digits in all but one game this season while contributing decent numbers in other categories. He also made history today, posting a record-breaking 8 steals, the most by any rookie in the last 12 years.
SCORING MACHINES:
Austin Reaves LAL SG 31 PTS | 9-16 FG | 11-13 FT | 48.3 FPS
Reaves took control in the fourth, dropping 12 points to put the Pelicans away. He finished with his third 30-point game this season.
Trey Murphy III NOP SF 35 PTS | 13-21 FG | 3-7 3PT| 39.2 FPS
Murphy started the season slowly but has turned it around lately, hitting the 20-point mark in four straight games, including erupting for 35+ points two times.
STAT SPECIALIST:
Saddiq Bey NOP SF 11 PTS | 7 REB | 7 AST | 31.9 FPS
Bey had his worst shooting performance this month, but still managed to score 10+ points for the sixth-straight game. He’s also posted solid rebounding value in three straight games and assists in his last two.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT:
Jake LaRavia LAL PF 3 REB | 3 STL | 2 BLK | 22.6 FPS
LaRavia slowed down on offense, scoring 6 or fewer in his last three games. But he stepped up on the defensive end today, leading the team in both steals and blocks. He also recorded at least 3 steals for the fourth time this season.
THE SHARPSHOOTER:
Rui Hachimura LAL PF 14 PTS | 6-10 FG | 2-5 3PT | 20.8 FPS
Hachimura has scored in double-figures six times, shot 50% or better from the field five times, and made two triples in every game this month.
THE X-FACTOR:
DeAndre Ayton LAL C 20 PTS | 10-11 FG | 16 REB | 47.2 FPS
DominAyton was a force, only missing 1 of his 11 attempts from two-point range and posted his third 20-10 performance this month.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Derik Queen NOP C 9 PTS | 10 REB | 5 AST | 26.5 FPS
Queen has scored in double-figures in his last five games, including dropping a career-high 26 against the Blazers. He came up short today but compensated with a career-high in rebounds.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE GAME:
Marcus Smart LAL PG 13 PTS | 5 AST | 2 TO
Smart delivered a well-rounded performance, but his struggles on offense are undeniable. He made just 1 of his 10 three-point attempts today and scored fewer than 10 points in three of seven games this month.
