Pelicans 110, Lakers 102
NEW ORLEANS -- Alexis Ajinca scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, his 12th career double-double, to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 110-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers and spoil Kobe Bryant's final appearance in New Orleans.
With three games left in his NBA career, Bryant played just 22 minutes. He played the entire first quarter and matched his season high for the first period with 14 of the Lakers' 27 points.
Bryant sat out the entire second quarter, was held scoreless in seven minutes of the third quarter and then came back in for a final bow, playing three minutes in the fourth quarter, with the Lakers trailing 98-82.
Bryant finished 4 of 15 from the field and 3 of 9 from long range. He also had four assists and three rebounds before leaving to the standing ovation with 4:15 left and the Lakers trailing 106-85.
The Lakers led 27-24 after one, but with Bryant sitting out the entire second quarter, the Pelicans outscored Los Angeles 33-19 in the second period, including a 9-0 run to end the quarter, top take a 57-46 halftime lead.
Bryant put on a show in the first quarter, dropping in three jumpers from long range and twirling his right wrist in the air after the second. Bryant scored 11 of the Lakers' first 16 points.
But the Pelicans held the Lakers to 31.7 percent shooting in the first half, and Ajinca had a double-double in the first two quarters with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pelicans played a video tribute to Bryant in between the first and second quarters, and Bryant was greeted with a standing ovation. Bryant acknowledged the tribute by walking onto the court and raising his right arm.
Bryant left with the Lakers trailing 80-55. With the Pelicans leading 98-79 midway through the fourth quarter, the home crowd chanted “We want Kobe!” But he never re-entered the game.
The Pelicans (30-49) also were led by Toney Douglas (20), Dante Cunningham (19) and Luke Babbitt (15).
The Lakers (16-63) continued their march to their worst record in franchise history. D'Angelo Russell led the Lakers with a game-high 32 points and Jordan Clarkson added 26.
NOTES: Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said he measures Kobe Bryant's greatness by his unsurpassed competitiveness and work ethic. "You see him working out in the summer in July, when everybody else is probably vacationing, but that's what drives him," Gentry said. "He truly wanted to be the best player that ever put on a uniform, and, to me, he did everything he possibly could to get there." ... Gentry said New Orleans F Ryan Anderson (groin) likely will miss the rest of the season. ... Bryant has three games left on his retirement tour: at Houston on Sunday, at Oklahoma City on Monday and a final home game against Utah on Wednesday. ... Lakers coach Byron Scott said rookie PG D'Angelo Russell, who has struggled offensively recently, needs to get stronger in the offseason. "His upside is so great for him," Scott said. "He's got to work on his lower body. He's definitely got to look at film and learn that position."