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Luka Doncic, LeBron James each score 30 as Lakers hold off Pelicans

Doncic caps his 30-point, 10-assist performance with a pair of off-balance, bail-out 3-pointers as the shot clock winds down, and the Lakers use an 18-4 fourth-quarter run to help secure a 111-103 win

Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, celebrates a 3-point basket with teammate LeBron James during the second half of their victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night in New Orleans. Doncic and James each scored 30 points in a 111-103 win. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, celebrates a 3-point basket with teammate LeBron James during the second half of their victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night in New Orleans. Doncic and James each scored 30 points in a 111-103 win. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
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Lakers star Luka Doncic drives as the New Orleans Pelicans’ Herbert Jones defends on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in New Orleans. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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NEW ORLEANS — LeBron James and Luka Doncic carried the Lakers across the finish line … again.

James scored 30 points, Doncic capped his 30-point, 10-assist performance with a pair of off-balance, bail-out 3-pointers as the shot clock wound down, and the Lakers held off the reeling New Orleans Pelicans, 111-103, on Tuesday night.

Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the fourth time in their past five games while sending the Pelicans to their eighth straight loss.

“I love what’s happening right now with Luka and LeBron and that partnership, whether it’s pick-and-roll with each other,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “There’s some real synergy happening right now and it’s fun to watch.”

It was the second time in the past three games that James and Doncic have scored at least 30 points in the same game. Doncic had 34 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, when James had 31.

“It is gonna start with me and Luka, for sure, every time we hit the floor,” James told reporters in New Orleans. “He has the ball in his hands. I’m gonna have the ball in my hands. We have to make sure we putting our guys in position offensively and then defensively. It has always been my voice to make sure I command with my voice and everybody knows what’s going on on the floor.”

James, the NBA’s career scoring leader, made it clear that the team will follow Doncic’s lead.

“Luka don’t need to bend his game. Luka is our franchise for this ball club,” James said. “He don’t need to bend this game. It’s up to us to bend our game around him and figure it out. We just try to be dynamic to work off of him. We know he is an unbelievable pick-and-roll player, unbelievable shot maker. He commands the defense. He had four eyes, sometimes six eyes on him. … It’s up to us to put ourselves in the right position. So, it’s not a problem for me, it’s not an issue for me. To be able to do things that … I don’t know … I just don’t think people watch basketball.”

Trey Murphy scored a career-high 41 points, Zion Williamson scored 15 and rookie Derik Queen had 10 points and 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which led by as many as nine points late in the third quarter.

The Lakers (23-11) opened the fourth quarter on an 18-4 run that included two deep 3-pointers by James, a 3-pointer by Dalton Knecht and a pair of baskets in the paint by Ayton. The surge gave the Lakers a 97-90 lead, and the Pelicans could not get closer than four – on Jose Alvarado’s 3-pointer with 3:12 left. James then hit a pair of reverse layups on either side of Doncic’s sealer, a 31-foot 3-pointer to beat the shot clock with two minutes left.

The Lakers outscored the Pelicans 32-17 in the fourth, holding them to 33% shooting (5 for 15) with seven turnovers.

Neither team led by more than seven until Karlo Matkovic’s free throws gave New Orleans an 83-74 lead late in the third quarter.

James’ three free throws and his steal and breakaway dunk quickly trimmed the Lakers’ deficit to four before Murphy, who had 20 points in the third quarter, hit a driving reverse scoop as he was fouled to make it 86-79 heading to the final period.

Herb Jones, returning from a right ankle injury that has sidelined him seven games, struggled with his shooting, missing eight of nine shots. The Pelicans missed five of their 18 free throws, with Williamson missing four.

The Lakers shot 50.6% overall (43 for 85), while holding the Pelicans to 44% overall (40 for 91) and just 10 for 40 from 3-point range.

Next up for the Lakers is a back-to-back game on Wednesday night in San Antonio and the 41-year-old James was asked if he planned to play.

“TBD … You guys know that,” James said. “I’m 41 years old, of course, it’s always … every back-to-back for the rest of the season is TBD. I am 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history. Bank it right now. What are we talking about? What are we talking about?”

VINCENT DOWNGRADED

Lakers guard Gabe Vincent is on the two-game trip, but he was downgraded to out for the game against the Pelicans with a lumbar back strain. Vincent has sat out nine consecutive games, but Redick said there is hope he’ll be available Wednesday against San Antonio.

UP NEXT

The Lakers visit the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. PT.

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