Pelicans (42-30), Lakers (31-39)
It could’ve been a crushing stretch of New Orleans’ regular season schedule, but the Pelicans turned a potential concern into a major positive. For the third straight night Thursday, New Orleans won the fourth quarter and the game, posting a victory. That ran the Pelicans’ winning streak to four overall, which pushed them into fourth place in the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo were extremely clutch in the final minutes, helping New Orleans overcome a late deficit. Davis finished with 33 points in 37 minutes, with the Pelicans again trying to keep his workload reasonable, but again needing him to help secure a win.