Austin Reaves Shines as Lakers Top Pelicans in NBA Cup; Dončić Struggles Offensively in 118–104 Win

The Los Angeles Lakers picked up a crucial NBA Cup victory on Friday night, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 118–104 despite an unusually inefficient offensive performance from Luka Dončić. With the Slovenian star struggling to score, it was Austin Reaves who took command of the offense, helping Los Angeles remain atop Group B in the Western Conference.

A Dominant Start, but an Inconsistent Hold

A 14-point win looks solid on paper, but the Lakers’ performance told a different story. Los Angeles led by 22 points in the first quarter, sparked by sharp ball movement and strong two-way play from the starting lineup.

The Pelicans, however, refused to fold. They clawed back in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to just two points. At that moment, Dončić and Jake LaRavia stabilized the offense, preventing a tie or potential momentum shift. With Deandre Ayton controlling both ends of the floor, the Lakers rebuilt a comfortable cushion and entered halftime ahead by 13 points.

Dončić’s Struggles and His Mid-Game Adjustment

The second half brought a surprising turn: Dončić’s shots simply weren’t falling. He went more than five minutes without scoring, prompting him to shift roles. Instead of forcing offense, the superstar adapted — playing off the ball, locking in defensively, and creating scoring opportunities for teammates.

The adjustment paid off. Dončić recorded a double-double by the third quarter, finishing with big defensive stats, including a rare block. Meanwhile, Reaves took over offensively, scoring 20 second-half points as he assumed the role of primary creator.

Dončić began the fourth quarter on the bench, and his absence was immediately felt — New Orleans cut the gap from 18 to 10 points. He quickly returned to the floor to stabilize the game, and the Lakers pulled away once again in the final minutes.

Dončić’s Cold Night by the Numbers

Luka Dončić finished with 24 points on 37.5% shooting from both the field and the perimeter — well below his season averages. Yet he still posted a remarkable +30 plus-minus, showcasing his overall impact.

The star guard added:

• 12 assists
• 7 rebounds
• 2 steals
• 1 block

He also delivered strong one-on-one defense, helping silence several Pelicans runs.

Reaves Takes Over

Quiet in the first half, Reaves recognized the need to step up — and delivered spectacularly. He scored 20 of his 31 points after halftime, finishing with:

• 31 points
• 7 assists
• 4 rebounds
• 1 steal
• 1 block
• 56.3% FG

With Dončić off rhythm, Reaves’ assertiveness was critical.

NBA Cup Standings

The Lakers remain perfect in the NBA Cup, now 2–0 with a +19 point differential, comfortably leading Group B.

The Clippers sit in second place with the same 2–0 record but a smaller point margin.

New Orleans, Dallas, and Memphis each have at least one loss, putting them in a deep hole — and likely out of contention since only the first-place team advances.

Game Leaders – Lakers vs. Pelicans

Lakers

• Austin Reaves: 31 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST
• Luka Dončić: 24 PTS, 7 REB, 12 AST
• Deandre Ayton: 20 PTS, 16 REB, 2 AST
• Rui Hachimura: 14 PTS, 4 REB, 1 STL
• Marcus Smart: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST

Pelicans

• Trey Murphy III: 35 PTS, 5 REB, 1 STL
• Jeremiah Fears: 19 PTS, 4 REB, 8 STL
• Herb Jones: 13 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST
• Saddiq Bey: 11 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST