After a 0-5 start, the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the New Orleans Pelicans 120-117 Wednesday night with Matt Ryan’s tying 3-pointer and Lonnie Walker’s overtime 3-pointer.
The Lakers lost a 16-point lead and seemed dead before Dyson Daniels’ two missed free throws with 1.4 seconds left in regulation allowed them to run one final play. Anthony Davis scored 20 points and 16 rebounds.
Austin Reaves passed to Ryan, who hit a fallaway 3 in front of the Lakers’ bench to force overtime.
“I’m pleased for him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. Worked. It was well-executed, and Matt had the bravery to line it up and knock it down.”
Ryan played one NBA game for Boston last season after attending three institutions, being undrafted, and driving DoorDash. Because of his outside shooting, he plays rotation minutes for the Lakers, but he missed six of his first seven 3-point tries against New Orleans before making their greatest shot of the year.
Ryan stated the pass was clean and the defence was far enough away to get it off clean. “As a shooter, once you can get your feet down and see the rim clean enough, it made it a lot easier.”
Walker’s overtime 3-pointer put the Lakers ahead. C.J. McCollum’s jumper cut the Lakers’ advantage to three in the final minute, but he missed a 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left, and the Pelicans couldn’t foul before the buzzer.
Lakers’ LeBron James had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Russell Westbrook scored 13 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds in another good reserve game, but he was benched late and in overtime.
The Pelicans fell to 4-3 despite Williamson’s 27 points and McCollum’s 22 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
“We did everything we needed to do to put ourselves in a position to win that game, and we let it slip away,” Pels coach Willie Green said. Some of our young lads are growing in this. The Lakers deserved that win. We didn’t wait until halftime to decide to play.
Williamson scored 14 fourth-quarter points to give New Orleans a three-point lead in the last minute. New Orleans seemed to win when Larry Nance Jr. dunked with 7.8 seconds left and Walker missed a matching 3-point effort.
Pelicans: Hyperextended right knee sidelined Herb Jones for the fourth consecutive game. Green expects him back Friday. … High-scoring Green said Brandon Ingram is “working” after missing his fourth game in the concussion protocol. Advancing. He should return soon.” Daniels played with a left ankle injury.
Lakers: Davis played two games after missing the season’s opening due to a back injury. Ham said, “His back condition is something we absolutely need to monitor, but it’s not going to deteriorate with what he’s doing.”
Pelicans host Warriors Friday.
Lakers host Jazz Friday.
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