Lakers in the News 3/4/14: Pelicans-Lakers

 
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:43 pm    Post subject: Lakers in the News 3/4/14: Pelicans-Lakers

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Pelicans-Lakers Preview

The Los Angeles Lakers are returning home with a chance to match their longest win streak of the season.

A matchup with the reeling New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night would appear to give them a good chance to secure a third consecutive victory.

The Lakers (21-39) haven't had the usual number of highlights this season but a 107-106 win in Portland on Monday was one of them. Wesley Johnson's basket off an alley-oop inbounds pass from Kent Bazemore with 6.9 seconds remaining put Los Angeles ahead after it blew an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter.

"To pull out the win like we did and fight the whole game, it was a good one," Johnson said.

Pau Gasol scored 22 to lead the Lakers and has topped 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time since returning from a strained right groin Feb. 21. After scoring 13 points in a 118-98 loss at Indiana last Tuesday, Gasol expressed his frustration with what he considered the team's selfish play and coach Mike D'Antoni's use of a smaller lineup.

Jodie Meeks had 21 on Monday and is averaging 18.4 points on 53.3 percent shooting since coming back from a sprained right ankle Feb. 19.

Jordan Farmar (hamstring) and Xavier Henry (knee) are among other Lakers players who have also returned recently. Farmar had a career-best 30 points in a 126-122 win over visiting Sacramento on Friday, and Henry played Monday for the first time since Dec. 29.

The healthier Lakers will next try to match their three-game win streak from Nov. 17-24 by sending the Pelicans (23-37) to a season-high ninth consecutive defeat.

New Orleans is averaging 92.4 points in its last eight games -- 7.2 fewer than in its first 52 contests -- and has topped 90 just once on a five-game road trip that ends Tuesday. The Pelicans were outrebounded 47-30 in Monday's 96-89 loss to Sacramento.

Tyreke Evans tried to help New Orleans by scoring 14 of his season-high 27 points in the fourth quarter. He also finished two assists shy of a third career triple-double and had 10 rebounds in the Pelicans' sixth consecutive road defeat, their longest skid away from home this season.

"It's just another tough loss. It's the same old song," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "We had the game in our grasp, we were up five or six, then in a 2 1/2-minute stretch we go from being up five or six, and then we're down by nine."


http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/preview?id=400489776
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Cha*n
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:45 pm    Post subject:

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Preview: Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans

By Eric Pincus
March 4, 2014, 6:00 a.m.

The last time the Lakers won three straight games was in mid-November.

On Tuesday, they have the chance to do it again -- for just the season time this season -- hosting the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center on Wednesday night.

The Lakers (21-39) defeated the Sacramento Kings on Friday and the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. The Pelicans (23-37) also played on Monday, losing in Sacramento.

New Orleans has struggled of late, losing eight in a row.

All-star Anthony Davis is playing through a shoulder injury but Ryan Anderson (back), Jrue Holiday (knee) and Jason Smith (knee) are all expected to sit out for the remainder of the season.

The Lakers are still without Nick Young (knee), Steve Nash (nerve root irritation), and Kobe Bryant (knee).

Key matchup

In just his second year, Davis is one of the league's top forwards.

Through 52 games (missing eight), Davis has averaged 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. He's shooting 51.9% from the field and, as the blocks statistic suggests, is an aggressive defender.

The Lakers' Pau Gasol has more experience and size, but Davis has youth and athleticism.

Gasol has averaged 17.2 points a game with 10 rebounds a night but has shot 47.6% from the field.

Davis plays some center but starts at power forward. Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni is likely to stick with Wesley Johnson at the four in a small-ball lineup.

The Pelicans have started Alexis Ajinca for 21 games.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-lakers-new-orleans-pelicans-20140304,0,7780375.story#ixzz2v21OCKbx
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:47 pm    Post subject:

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Pelicans, Lakers duke it out at Staples Center
Published March 04, 2014Sports Network
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Lakers picked up perhaps their biggest win in this dismal season last time out and will try to carry that momentum into Tuesday's matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center.

The Lakers used an alley-oop lay-in with 6.9 seconds remaining to knock off the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center, 107-106, on Monday night.

Kent Bazemore tried to split a pair of defenders on a breakaway and had the ball knocked out of bounds with 7.1 seconds showing.

Replay was used to overturn the original call of Blazers ball, and Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni drew up an inbounds play that saw Bazemore lob one for Wesley Johnson from the sideline.

Despite LaMarcus Aldridge being draped all over him, Johnson got the go-ahead bucket to fall, and the Lakers survived Damian Lillard's off-balanced 25- footer at the buzzer.

"Bazemore made a great pass and Wes did a good job of executing," D'Antoni said. "Everyone had to do their job, and we executed it pretty well."


http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/03/04/pelicans-lakers-duke-it-out-at-staples-center/
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:50 pm    Post subject:

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Lakers Host Pelicans for Mardi Gras
The Los Angeles Lakers go for three wins in a row against the New Orleans Pelicans on Fat Tuesday.
By Shahan Ahmed | Tuesday, Mar 4, 2014 | Updated 12:14 PM PSTView

Jodie Meeks #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers has been in sharp form as of late, and he is making a strong case to be re-signed by the Lakers next season.

On Fat Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers can match their best three-game stretch of the season with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. With Mardi Gras kicking off in their home city, the Pelicans have been exiled to Los Angeles because they are not worthy of the celebrations.

After hosting the NBA’s All-Star weekend, New Orleans has lost eight games in a row. Going back before that weekend, the Pelicans have lost 10 of the last 11 games, so the Lakers may actually walk into a game as favorites, which is rare this season.

Read: James Breaks Scoring Record
If the Lakers win on Tuesday night, they will be playing their best basketball of the season. Back in November, the Lakers put together a season-high three-game winning streak against the Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.

If current two-game winning streak extends to three games, the Lakers will be on their best three-game stretch of the season. Beating the Portland Trail-Blazers in Portland is an impressive achievement for the Lakers in any year, but this year, that is, arguably. the most impressive victory of the season.

Recently, the Lakers’ hungry collection of one-year players has been stepping forward to attract the spotlight and a hopefully, new contracts. Included in that improving bunch are Jodie Meeks and Wesley Johnson.


http://www.nbclosangeles.com/blogs/triple-threat/Lakers-Pelicans-preview-Mardi-Gras-248418411.html
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:53 pm    Post subject:

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Wesley Johnson tips Blazers late as Lakers survive

Lakers Hold Off Blazers
The Lakers won their second straight game, beating the Blazers 107-106.
Tags: NBA, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Robin Lopez, Jodie Meeks, Wesley Johnson

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Wesley Johnson was hard-pressed to think of a more memorable shot he's had than his game winner against Portland.

Kent Bazemore lobbed to Johnson for the go-ahead basket with 6.9 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Trail Blazers 107-106 on Monday night.

They had been practicing that very play.

"It's one of them. It's gotta be up there," Johnson said about where the shot ranked. "To pull out the win like we did and fight the whole game, it was a good one."

More Lakers-Blazers Coverage
Not only was it a victory for the Lakers, but it was a win for coach Mike D'Antoni, who believes their best chance to compete is with his "skilled ball" approach, Dave McMenamin writes. Blog

• Rapid Reaction
• Lakers Blog | ESPN Los Angeles

Pau Gasol scored 22 points, and the Lakers won their second straight, snapping the Blazers' five-game winning streak. Jodie Meeks added 21 points.

The Lakers, who led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter, pushed the lead to 97-86 in the fourth on MarShon Brooks' short jumper.

But Nicolas Batum's 3-pointer narrowed the gap to 103-101 for the Blazers with 3:37 left before Wesley Matthews' fadeaway jumper tied it at 105 with 1:10 left.

Damian Lillard hit one of two free throws to give Portland its first lead since the first quarter. But the officials reversed a possession call with 7.1 seconds left, giving the ball to the Lakers. Bazemore pitched to Johnson for the deciding layup, and Lillard missed a 3-pointer as time ran out.

"These guys are straight up athletes in this league, and you can just throw it anywhere around the dash," Bazemore said. "(Johnson) caught it and could have actually dunked it but went with a safe one."


http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/recap?gameId=400489769
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