New Orleans Pelicans (19-44, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (14-49, 15th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento aims to end its eight-game home losing streak with a win against New Orleans.
The Kings have gone 10-33 against Western Conference teams. Sacramento has a 10-34 record against teams above .500.
The Pelicans have gone 12-28 against Western Conference opponents. New Orleans is 6-32 against opponents over .500.
The Kings average 10.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 4.3 fewer makes per game than the Pelicans give up (14.4). The Kings average 114.9 points per game, 6.2 fewer points than the 121.1 the Kings allow to opponents.
The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 120-94 in their last meeting on Feb. 10. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 21 points, and Maxime Raynaud led the Kings with 21 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Raynaud is scoring 10.7 points per game and averaging 7.2 rebounds for the Kings. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 14.1 points and 2.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Murphy is averaging 22 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 2-8, averaging 108.6 points, 44.3 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.8 points per game.
Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 116.9 points, 44.3 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.1 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.1 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Pelicans: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Mar 3, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) dribbles past Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford (5) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images | Justine Willard-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns got a much-needed win against a reeling Sacramento Kings team, 114-103. The Suns, now 35-26 this season, are one win away from matching their season win total from last season at 36. They did it the same way they have done it all season, winning on the margins and as a team.
The Suns had six players score in double figures, hit 19 3-pointers, outrebounded Sacramento 53-40, and scored 32 points in transition. The Suns were generating wide-open looks all night, and even when shots were not going down, they were relentless on the offensive glass and forcing the Kings into turnovers in the middle two quarters of basketball. Even when Maxime Reynaud scored 22 points, Precious Achiuwa scored 18, and Russell Westbrook scored 16, with all going on their own stretches of high-level play to keep the Kings alive, the Suns stuck with their game plan and walked out of Sacramento with a series sweep over the Kings.
The Suns countered each of these Kings’ individual performances with standout performances as well. Collin Gillespie showcased his shooting, going 5-for-8 from three, grabbing six rebounds, and tossing out nine assists. Oso Ighodaro had a double-double at halftime and finished the game with 14 points and 14 rebounds, with eight coming on the offensive boards. Rookie forward Rasheer Fleming continued to reward head coach Jordan Ott with stellar play when he went on his own individual 8-0 run in the third quarter and continues to look more comfortable on an NBA court. He finished with a career high of 8 points and six rebounds in 15 minutes of play.
While many of the Suns played well, Jalen Green needed his performance the most to get back on track after a dreadful month of February shooting from the field. He finished with a team-high 20 points and four steals. It was not all positive for Green, he had seven turnovers and one assist, but after a slow start in the first quarter, he was key to multiple Suns runs in the second and fourth quarters. The faster the Suns played, the more comfortable he looked driving to the basket and he found some semblance of a rhythm that he can hopefully take with him for the rest of the season.
Devin Booker’s first game back from injury was successful despite shooting 6-for-19 from the field and scoring 17 points; he made it through the game healthy and shook off the rust.
Game Flow
First Half
Collin Gillespie started the first quarter with a bang, knocking down back-to-back threes but the Kings controlled the first quarter with their defense. Jalen Green and Mark Williams both struggled largely in their first shift. Green drove on Russell Westbrook twice and got stripped twice, resulting in fastbreak layups on the other end for the Kings. Devin Booker stabilized the Suns’ offense, knocking down a corner 3-point shot and a midrange pull-up in his return to play. The Kings led 14-13 halfway through the quarter when the bench players checked into the game.
That’s when the Malik Monk heater happened.
Monk scored 11 points on 3-for-3 from long distance. One of his threes was a desperation banked three as the shot clock expired, the typical Malik Monk heater experience. Outside of Gillespie and Booker, the Suns struggled to score and played sloppily despite getting decent looks and matchups. The Kings led 30-22 after the first quarter.
The second quarter started all Suns with an emphatic 19-2 run to begin the period. Allen started the quarter with a deep 3-point hit to set the tone, and the Suns exploded from there. The ball moved on offense, and most importantly, the Suns got stops and pushed the ball in transition creating some highlight plays. Green knocked down his first three of the game in transition and capitalized with an emphatic alley oop dunk for the and-1.
Oso Ighodaro got in on the action as well, as the Suns forced another stop where he capped off a beautiful sequence with an alley-oop dunk. He had a double-double at halftime. It was the best Jalen Green has looked since returning from his injury, and the Suns led 41-32.
The Suns continued to score but could not get any stops as Precious Achiuwa dominated the Suns inside for 16 first-half points, and Westbrook hit multiple jumpers in a row to get the Kings back into the game and tie it at 48-48. For what felt like the first time all season, Booker was aggressive and confidence shooting behind the 3-point and hit not one, not two, but three pull-up 3-point jumpers to score 14 first half point points to give the Suns a 59-55 halftime lead. Hopefully, this is the month where the lid comes off the rim for Booker from long distance. Transition points were the difference in the first half, with Phoenix outscoring Sacramento 19-9.
Second Half
The back-and-forth continued in the third quarter, with Westbrook on his third 3-point shot of the game. Then Collin Gillespie and the Suns’ defense intensity and offensive flow took over the game. The game swung on one possession: despite O’Neale and Booker missing three wide-open 3-point shots, Gillespie battled for multiple offensive rebounds before knocking down a 3-point shot of his own. Then, after getting a stop, Gillespie hit another three in transition, and the proverbial dam broke.
The Suns continued to force the Kings into bad shots and turnovers, resulting in back-to-back O’Neale bombs from three to give the Suns a decisive 76-63 lead on an 11-0 run. The Kings did not back down, though, getting back to within six, down 79-73, but this time it was Rasheer Fleming who knocked down back-to-back triples and threw down to give the Suns a 14-point lead on his personal 8-0 run.
The Suns dominated the rest of the quarter with their offensive rebounding, forcing turnovers, and shooting threes for a decisive 90-75 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Suns’ unit of Allen, Gillespie, Fleming, Ighodaro, and Ryan Dunn put the finishing touches on the Kings early in the fourth quarter. The Suns continued to flow offensively with precise movement and pace, resulting in open shots for Allen and Gillespie and open dunks at the rim for Ighodaro. When Green checked back into the game, he knocked down a 3-point shot and got to the rim as well. Ahead by as much as 20, the game was all but over until Ott checked Booker, O’Neale, and Williams back into the game, where turnovers and sloppy play from the Suns allowed the Kings to cut the Suns’ lead to 12, 108-96. The final nail in the coffin came on a Booker 3-point shot to put the Suns back up 112-96 with 3:10 left to end the game.
Up Next
The Suns return home to host the Chicago Bulls Thursday night at the Mortgage Matchup Center at 7 pm Arizona time.
Brooklyn Nets (15-46, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (33-29, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Miami hosts Brooklyn looking to prolong its three-game home winning streak.
The Heat are 17-18 in conference play. Miami is third in the league with 54.4 points in the paint led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. averaging 10.2.
The Nets have gone 11-27 against Eastern Conference opponents. Brooklyn is the worst team in the Eastern Conference scoring averaging 106.8 points per game while shooting 44.5%.
The Heat are shooting 46.4% from the field this season, 3.2 percentage points lower than the 49.6% the Nets allow to opponents. The Heat average 106.8 points per game, 9.9 fewer points than the 116.7 the Heat allow.
The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last matchup on March 4 the Heat won 124-98 led by 23 points from Bam Adebayo, while Noah Clowney scored 17 points for the Nets.
TOP PERFORMERS: Adebayo is averaging 18.7 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Heat. Andrew Wiggins is averaging 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Michael Porter Jr. is scoring 24.1 points per game and averaging 6.9 rebounds for the Nets. Clowney is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 6-4, averaging 119.9 points, 50.5 rebounds, 28.0 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.7 points per game.
Nets: 1-9, averaging 104.2 points, 37.7 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.9 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Nikola Jovic: day to day (back), Norman Powell: out (groin).
Nets: Egor Demin: day to day (injury management).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Chicago Bulls (25-37, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (34-26, seventh in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago will attempt to stop its five-game road losing streak when the Bulls visit Phoenix.
The Suns have gone 20-12 at home. Phoenix is sixth in the league allowing just 111.4 points per game while holding opponents to 46.9% shooting.
The Bulls are 9-19 on the road. Chicago is second in the Eastern Conference with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Josh Giddey averaging 7.0.
The Suns are shooting 45.3% from the field this season, 2.2 percentage points lower than the 47.5% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls average 115.7 points per game, 4.3 more than the 111.4 the Suns give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Williams is averaging 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 13.9 points over the last 10 games.
Matas Buzelis is averaging 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Bulls. Collin Sexton is averaging 13.6 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 4-6, averaging 103.7 points, 44.1 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 8.8 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points per game.
Bulls: 1-9, averaging 108.9 points, 42.7 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.9 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.9 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Jordan Goodwin: out (calf), Dillon Brooks: out (hand).
Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: out (knee), Patrick Williams: day to day (quadriceps), Zach Collins: out for season (toe), Jalen Smith: day to day (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte is looking to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Hornets take on Boston.
The Celtics are 27-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston is sixth in the NBA with 46.2 rebounds led by Nikola Vucevic averaging 8.8.
The Hornets are 19-21 in conference matchups. Charlotte is 7-8 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 15.0 turnovers per game.
The Celtics average 15.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 more made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Hornets allow. The Hornets average 16.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 more made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Celtics allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 29 points, 7.1 rebounds and five assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 17 points and 5.8 assists over the past 10 games.
Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 22.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 109.4 points, 50.7 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 6.1 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 98.5 points per game.
Hornets: 7-3, averaging 117.3 points, 47.8 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.2 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Neemias Queta: day to day (rest).
Hornets: Coby White: day to day (injury management).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City seeks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Thunder take on New York.
The Knicks have gone 23-8 at home. New York is fourth in the league averaging 14.8 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 37.5% from deep. Jalen Brunson leads the team averaging 2.9 makes while shooting 37.8% from 3-point range.
The Thunder are 23-8 on the road. Oklahoma City is seventh in the Western Conference with 25.5 assists per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 6.4.
The Knicks make 47.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 3.6 percentage points higher than the Thunder have allowed to their opponents (43.6%). The Thunder average 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is shooting 48.0% and averaging 19.8 points for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 24.8 points over the last 10 games.
Isaiah Joe is shooting 44.6% and averaging 11.0 points for the Thunder. Jared McCain is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 115.3 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.7 points per game.
Thunder: 8-2, averaging 114.9 points, 45.9 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle).
Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: day to day (abdominal), Ajay Mitchell: day to day (abdomen), Branden Carlson: day to day (back), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee), Isaiah Hartenstein: day to day (injury management).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers take on Cam Spencer and the Memphis Grizzlies in Western Conference action.
The Grizzlies are 18-24 against Western Conference opponents. Memphis has a 2-4 record in one-possession games.
The Trail Blazers are 22-18 in Western Conference play. Portland gives up 118.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 3.2 points per game.
The Grizzlies are shooting 46.2% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 47.6% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 115.2 points per game, 2.5 fewer than the 117.7 the Grizzlies allow to opponents.
The two teams match up for the fourth time this season. The Trail Blazers defeated the Grizzlies 122-115 in their last matchup on Feb. 8. Jerami Grant led the Trail Blazers with 29 points, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper led the Grizzlies with 25 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Spencer is shooting 47.7% and averaging 11.4 points for the Grizzlies. Jaylen Wells is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Avdija is averaging 24.4 points, seven rebounds and 6.6 assists for the Trail Blazers. Jrue Holiday is averaging 19.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 117.2 points, 36.9 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 12.6 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 113.2 points, 45.0 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 7.7 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.9 points.
INJURIES: Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: day to day (injury management), Taj Gibson: day to day (coach decision), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Ja Morant: out (elbow), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (calf).
Trail Blazers: Kris Murray: day to day (illness), Deni Avdija: day to day (back), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Utah heads into the matchup against Philadelphia as losers of six straight games.
The 76ers are 16-16 on their home court. Philadelphia has a 14-21 record against opponents above .500.
The Jazz are 7-22 on the road. Utah ranks third in the Western Conference scoring 52.1 points per game in the paint led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 11.7.
The 76ers score 116.0 points per game, 9.8 fewer points than the 125.8 the Jazz allow. The Jazz average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than the 76ers allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyrese Maxey is averaging 29 points, 6.7 assists and two steals for the 76ers. VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.
Isaiah Collier is scoring 11.0 points per game and averaging 2.5 rebounds for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 15.6 points and 3.4 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 4-6, averaging 111.7 points, 42.3 rebounds, 22.0 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.3 points per game.
Jazz: 2-8, averaging 115.8 points, 44.6 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 11.3 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.0 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), VJ Edgecombe: day to day (back), Kelly Oubre Jr.: day to day (illness).
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Vince Williams Jr.: out for season (acl), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jalen Green scored 20 points, Grayson Allen had 18 and the Phoenix Suns beat the NBA-worst Sacramento Kings 114-103 on Tuesday night to sweep the four-game season series.
Seventh in the West at 35-26, the Suns won their second straight and got back Devin Booker after the star guard missed four games because of a right hip injury. He scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half.
Collin Gillespie scored 17 points — hitting 5 of 8 3-pointers — and had nine assists and six rebounds. Oso Ighodaro added 14 points and 14 rebounds. Phoenix is without Dillon Brooks because of a fractured left hand.
The Suns used a 14-0 run in the third quarter to turn a 63-62 deficit into a 76-63 lead. Royce O’Neale capped the run with consecutive 3-pointers.
Maxime Raynaud had 22 points — on 10-of-12 shooting — and 10 rebounds for Sacramento in the opener of a five-game homestand. The Kings dropped to 14-49. They are 2-3 following a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak.
Precious Achiuwa added 18 points, DeMar DeRozan had 17 and Russell Westbrook 16. Kings forward Keegan Murray missed his third straight game because of ankle injury.
Phoenix led 59-55 at the half. Ighodaro had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the half, and Achiuwa had 16 points for Sacramento.
The NBA player who had the league's second-longest active games played streak saw that spell snapped over the weirdest reason.
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes had played in 364 consecutive games, trailing only New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges' longest active streak of 616 games. But on Tuesday, March 3, ahead of San Antonio's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson revealed that Barnes was a late addition to the injury report.
Per Johnson, Barnes woke up from a pregame nap with a sore left ankle.
“He’s with the medical staff now,” Johnson told reporters prior to the game. “Hoping it’s nothing serious, but I don’t have much information.”
Barnes was initially listed as questionable, though he would go on to miss the game to snap his streak. The Spurs dominated Philadelphia, winning by 40 points, 131-91. Eight different Spurs scored double figures and all but one of the 13 players who appeared in the game scored a point.
This marked the first time since Dec. 4, 2021 that Barnes missed a game, when he was a member of the Sacramento Kings.
Luka Doncic shoots a fadeaway jumper against Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray in the second half. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers were looking to stack wins and are not in position to judge an opponent by its win-loss record.
So, when the Lakers encountered a Pelicans team that arrived at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night with a 19-43 record, they knew they couldn’t afford to overlook New Orleans. Especially since the Pelicans had won four of their past five and because they have a talented core of young talent that includes Zion Williamson, Herbert Jones, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray.
It took all five starters scoring in double figures and it took a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter for the Lakers (37-24) to pull out a 110-101 win over a stubborn Pelicans team.
“Well, we knew we weren’t playing against their record tonight,” said LeBron James, who was one of the starters to score in double figures with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds, seven assists and two blocks. But he also had five turnovers.
“It’s the first time they’ve been whole in quite a while,” James, who was eight-for-12 from the field, continued. “And we know when they’ve been whole what kind of team they’ve been. So, we came in with that mindset, understanding what kind of team we were playing and they won their last four out of five before tonight, or something like that.
"But we didn’t come in with the notion that we were playing against their record. We came in with the notion that we were playing a very athletic team that’s been playing exceptional basketball of late.”
The Lakers have been a better team as of late as well, winning their third straight game after losing three straight.
They won this one over the Pelicans with just enough offense and some timely defense.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. But he was just 10-for-22 from the field and three-for-10 from three-point range and he had seven turnovers.
"I think we responded in a good way,”: Doncic said. “Sometimes you got to win playing bad. That's what good teams do. I think that's what it is today. Obviously it wasn't our best game, but we managed to get a win."
Austin Reaves had 15 points on four-for-15 shooting and two for seven on three-pointers, eight rebounds and five turnovers.
Reaves injured his arm late in the fourth quarter after stripping the basketball away from Williamson. But after a quick time out, Reeves returned to the game.
“I just hit my funny bone,” Reaves said. “Whole hand went numb, called a time out, kind of went away and was able to play.”
Deandre Ayton had 13 points and eight rebounds.
There also was the defense and energy Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes provided the Lakers.
Smart had 10 points, four steals and three blocks. He also was big on offense, drilling a three-pointer with 1:34 left for a 105-98 Lakers lead.
Hayes had eight points, six rebounds and two blocks.
“Jaxson was guarding Zion, which is not easy,” Doncic said. “So, I think he had some big, big plays for us. And obviously Smart has been the key to our wins (this season).”
The Lakers had 20 turnovers through three quarters, which didn’t help their cause.
They had just one in the fourth quarter and that came on a late-game 24-second violation when they were running out the clock.
The Lakers didn’t help themselves by losing their composure.
Doncic was given a technical foul in the second quarter. Luke Kennard received a technical foul in the third quarter and Ayton got a technical foul in the fourth quarter after being called for a foul blocking a shot by Williamson.
Austin Reaves celebrates after making a three-pointer in the second half. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers had 12 blocks for the game and seven in the decisive fourth quarter.
They held the Pelicans to 35% shooting in the fourth and just 23 points.
“I think we’ve made some strides defensively,” James said. “I think we didn’t play much at all zone tonight. We started the game with it, we kind of went away from it. So, I thought our man-to-man defense was pretty good. I thought Jaxson and Marcus were great on that end and then everyone else kind of trickled in as well.”
In usual circumstances, the Lakers wouldn’t have played a competitive game against the Pelicans on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Because in most seasons, a team like the Pelicans, who entered the matchup with the league’s sixth-worst record, would be tanking with the hopes of falling in the standings to secure the best possible draft lottery odds.
But this season hasn’t been typical, with the Pelicans, who won six of their last nine games entering Tuesday, still looking to be competitive in light of trading away their 2026 first-round pick during a highly-scrutinized transaction that moved them up in the 2025 draft to select rookie big man Derik Queen at No. 13.
LeBron James goes up for a layup over DeAndre Jordan. AP
So the Lakers had to fight all the way to the end for the 110-101 victory over the Pelicans.
“We knew we weren’t playing against their record,” LeBron James said. “It’s the first time they’ve been whole in quite awhile. And we know when they’ve been whole what kind of team they’ve been. We didn’t come in with the notion that we were playing against their record. We came in with the notion that we were playing a very athletic team that’s been playing exceptional basketball of late.”
The Lakers came back from an eight-point deficit and closed the game on a 24-7 run to seal the victory.
“Frankly, that’s not a win we’ve had since probably November,” Coach JJ Redick said. “Where we’re down. A lot of those early wins when we started 15-4, we had a number of double-digit deficits in the second half, and just stuck with it and kept playing. It was a good win for our group to be able to do that again.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. James had 21 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.
They moved to 37-24 on the season, getting closer to having an identical home record (18-12) as road record (19-12).
Turning point
When after falling behind 94-86, the Lakers ran Stack 2 against the Pelicans’ hedging defense to open up a dunk for Jaxson Hayes assisted by Doncic, which started the Lakers’ late run.
Biggest offensive possession of the game. Lakers go to their stack 2 formation.
Pels put two on the ball. Watch Luka extend the trap, fake the pass to AR and open the jam for Jaxson. pic.twitter.com/04I1bLgRPK
Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot for most of Tuesday (15 points on 4-of-15 shooting) made a 3-pointer with 5:04 left to give the Lakers a 96-94 lead. They led for the remainder of the game.
MVP: Marcus Smart
His 3-of-9 shooting doesn’t stand out.
But the veteran guard made the dagger 3-point to put the Lakers up 105-98 with 1:34 left.
And he made multiple game-changing defensive plays that ignited the Lakers’ offense.
Marcus Smart before tip-off. NBAE via Getty Images
“Smart was incredible,” Redick said. “Him and Jaxson [Hayes] in the second half, when we got him back in the game defensively, they helped us win the game. They changed the game.”
Smart finished with 10 points, seven assists, four steals, three blocked shots and three rebounds, and had the best individual plus/minus among the starters.
Stat of the game: 22
That was the number of turnovers the Lakers committed against the Pelicans.
It was the 11th time they had at least 20 giveaways, with the Lakers entering Tuesday 4-6 in games they had at least 20 turnovers.
Notably, it was just the third time the Lakers had at least 20 turnovers in a game Doncic, LeBron and Reaves all played, with the last one being the Feb. 5 win over the 76ers that Doncic left at halftime during.
The Dec. 1 loss to the Suns was the last time the Lakers had 20 turnovers in a game all three star players finished.
Up next
The Lakers will kick off their upcoming back-to-back in Denver when they play the Nuggets on Thursday night at Ball Arena.
They’ll close out the back-to-back on Friday against the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena, which will kick off a five-game homestand.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans plays defense during the game against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers on March 3, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers used a big fourth quarter run down the stretch to secure a third straight win, knocking off the Pelicans 110-101.
After falling behind by nearly double digits midway through the final frame, LA closed the game on a 24-7 run. They finished with 12 blocks, six of those coming in the fourth quarter.
Turnovers were a huge, huge issue through the first three quarters as they committed 20. However, they had just one in the fourth. New Orleans had 21 points off turnovers, but LA turned 18 Pelicans turnovers into 29 points.
The game began with teams exchanging 3-pointers. Trey Murphy III was off to a strong start for the Pelicans with nine points. LeBron James, meanwhile, led the Lakers with five points. Los Angeles was forced to call a timeout after falling behind by four.
Out of the break, they missed a shot, which led to a layup by Zion Williamson on the other end.
Austin Reaves’ struggles led to LA’s two turnovers early in the quarter. A quick 5-0 run put the Lakers within one with 4:32 left in the first. Former Lakers big man DeAndre Jordan was having a nice quarter for New Orleans with four points.
At the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by two.
A fully healthy Pelicans team is giving the Lakers trouble. New Orleans is dominating inside the paint, outscoring LA 18-12. They lead 33-31 as we enter the second quarter. No Lakers have reached double figures so far.
The second period began with Zion getting fouled and converting on both free throws. Marcus Smart connected with LeBron on the other end for a dunk. LA went on a 9-0 run, all thanks to LeBron, who now had 16 points.
After Deandre Ayton converted on a dunk, the Pelicans called a timeout.
Out of the break, Saddiq Bey scored on a layup, but that was the only points for the Pelicans as Los Angeles’ run was up to 16-2. New Orleans suddenly woke up offensively, scoring seven straight points.
Murphy picked up his third foul, which forced him to the bench for the rest of the half. Ayton stopped the bleeding for LA with a dunk.
Los Angeles picked up its defense, forcing the Pelicans into turnovers. New Orleans went on a three-minute scoring drought until Bey converted on a layup
Zion scored four more points, helping the Pelicans inch closer. A midrange jumper from Dončić, however, gave the Lakers a three-point lead at halftime.
Luka Doncic's technical foul was his 14th of the season, meaning he's two more away from a suspension, with 21 games remaining after tonight.
His first technical since Jan. 20 in Denver. Luka picked up 13 technicals in 42 games. Just one over the last 15.
Zion opened the third by converting on a layup. Smart responded on the other end with a triple. LA picked up its defense once again. A steal by Smart led to a dunk on the other end by LeBron, giving them a seven-point lead.
Reaves was unfortunately still cold offensively, missing his first eight shot attempts.
New Orleans began to surge, scoring nine in a row to jump ahead by one. The Lakers called a timeout, then turned the ball over for the eighth time in the quarter immediately after, bringing their total for the game to 18.
Luka scored on a midrange jumper to stop some of the bleeding.
Reaves finally got on the board with a much-needed layup. He then stole the ball on the other end and scored on another jumper. That momentum was cut short when the Pelicans pushed their lead to five.
Going into the fourth period, the Lakers were trailing by two.
The Pelicans outscored LA 27-22 in the 3rd Q to take a 78-76 lead into the final period. The Lakers have been plagued by 20 turnovers on the evening.
The final frame started with Jake LaRavia scoring on a layup after messing up their first possession. A free throw by LeBron put LA up by one.
Bey responded with a triple on the other end. Los Angeles had been battling back and forth, cutting the deficit down a few times.
New Orleans eventually put some cushion on their lead, jumping ahead by eight, their largest advantage of the night.
A massive 12-0 surge by the Lakers put them up by four with 4:29 left. After such a rough start, Reaves was now at 13 points and was a major catalyst for this scoring run, draining two 3-pointers.
The Lakers extended their scoring run to 19-4 after a 3-pointer from Smart. All of LA’s starters were now in double figures.
Luka then drained a triple of his own, putting the team up by 10, a capper on a big win and big fourth.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. LeBron netted 21 points with seven rebounds and seven assists. Reaves had a slow offensive night with 15 points, most of that coming in the fourth. He also grabbed six rebounds and dished three dimes.
Ayton scored 13 points with eight rebounds. Kennard had nine points off the bench. Jaxson Hayes pitched in with eight points and six rebounds. Smart notched 10 points with seven rebounds.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday at 7:00 PM PT.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Tahaad Pettiford scored 27 points and Kevin Overton scored 21 points and Auburn beat LSU 88-74 on Tuesday night to end its two-game losing streak.
While Pettiford finished three points shy of tying his career-high point total, he did tie career highs with six assists and four steals. KeyShawn Hall added 17 points and Elyjah Freeman 10 points for Auburn (16-14, 7-10 SEC).
Auburn shot 54% (31 of 57) including 42% (10 of 24) from 3-point range. Defensively, Auburn came up with 13 steals.
Mike Nwoko scored 19 points, Pablo Tamba and Jalen Reece each scored 12 and Marquel Sutton 10 for LSU (15-15, 3-14).
Tamba's layup with 4:50 remaining before halftime marked LSU's last lead. Pettiford made 1 of 2 foul shots to tie it at 27 and Hall followed with a layup. LSU's Nwoko threw down a dunk to tie it at 29 before Auburn went on a 12-5 run to close the half and led 41-34 at the break.
Overton's layup with 10:25 remaining put Auburn ahead 68-57 and the Tigers stayed ahead by double-digits the remainder.
Up Next
LSU: Concludes the regular season on Saturday hosting Texas A&M.
Auburn: Wraps up the regular season at 16th-ranked Alabama on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 3: Stephon Castle #5 and Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The music never really stopped inside the Wells Fargo Center. By the middle of the third quarter, the only suspense left was how high the lead would climb. The San Antonio Spurs didn’t just beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night — they overwhelmed them, dismantled them, and left no doubt in a 131-91 runaway that felt decided long before the final horn.
It began methodically.
San Antonio moved the ball with patience in the opening minutes, probing, spacing the floor and waiting for clean looks. Philadelphia, already shorthanded without stars like Joel Embiid and Paul George, tried to hang around with effort and transition buckets. For a brief stretch, it worked. The game had rhythm. It had pace.
Then the Spurs flipped the switch.
The second quarter became a clinic. Crisp passes zipped from corner to wing. Open shooters stepped confidently into threes. Cuts to the rim were rewarded. By halftime, San Antonio had blown the doors off the game, unleashing a scoring avalanche that buried the Sixers under an 81-39 surge spanning the second and third periods.
“I thought we had a really good start to the game. I thought the starters set a tone,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “Our defensive pressure and activity was at really good level. Then we passed the ball, played with each other and made each other better.”
Stephon Castle conducted it all like a seasoned floor general. The rookie guard controlled tempo, delivered pinpoint passes and finished with 15 points and 10 assists, but it was the poise that stood out. He never forced the issue. He simply read what the defense gave him and kept the offense humming.
On the wings, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper took turns torching the defense. Each poured in 22 points, slicing through gaps and knocking down jumpers in rhythm. By the time the third quarter was winding down, eight Spurs had reached double figures — a testament to the kind of unselfish, balanced attack that has become their identity.
“Up until this moment in the season, the thing I’ve been most happy with is their competitive response,” Johnson said. “Typically we bounce back and that is a testiment to their character and their competitiveness.”
And then there was Victor Wembanyama.
He didn’t need to score 30 to dominate the night. Instead, he erased shots, six blocks in all, altered countless others, and swallowed rebounds with that impossible reach. Add three steals and eight boards to his 10 points, and his imprint was everywhere. The paint belonged to him.
“No win is perfect and we’re never as good as we look in a win, but we’re never as bad we look in a loss,” Wembanayama said. “But I thought it was a very good response.”
For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey tried to shoulder the load, finishing with 21 points and eight rebounds. Jabari Walker added 20 of his own. But every mini-run was met with a Spurs answer — a three from the corner, a backdoor cut, a fast-break finish. By late in the third, the lead ballooned to nearly 50, and the final period felt like a formality.
What made the performance striking wasn’t just the margin — it was the maturity.
This was a young Spurs team on the road, closing out a grueling stretch away from home. Instead of fatigue, they showed sharpness. Instead of inconsistency, they showed cohesion. The ball moved. The defense rotated. The bench celebrated every extra pass as if it were the highlight.
When the final buzzer sounded, it marked one of San Antonio’s most complete efforts of the season — a wire-to-wire dismantling that sent them home with momentum and a reminder of what they look like when everything clicks.
