Lakers 95, Pelicans 91
LOS ANGELES -- Guard Lou Williams scored 19 points, handed out eight assists and hit a crucial basket with the game on the line, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a four-game skid with a 95-91 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Guard Jordan Clarkson added 18 points for the Lakers (9-31), while backup point guard D'Angelo Russell chipped in 13 points.
Guard Tyreke Evans had 21 points to lead the Pelicans (11-26), who dropped their fourth in a row. Forward Ryan Anderson contributed 15 points and seven rebounds, while guards Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday scored 14 points apiece.
New Orleans forward Anthony Davis missed his second consecutive game with a back contusion, an injury he sustained while diving in the stands chasing a loose ball Friday in a loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Meanwhile, Lakers forward Kobe Bryant returned from a one-game absence only to depart before halftime. Bryant was forced out of the game with 2:42 remaining in the second quarter due to a sore right Achilles tendon, and he did not return. It is the same injury that kept him out of the Lakers' loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
In 16 minutes, Bryant finished with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, missing all five of his 3-point attempts.
The Lakers took only their second lead of the game at 90-89 on a jumper by Williams with 1:16 remaining in the contest. After Holiday's layup gave New Orleans the lead again, the Lakers snatched it back on forward Julius Randle's basket inside with 43.3 seconds remaining. That turned out to be the difference.
Williams' floater in the lane with 18.5 seconds left made it 94-91 for Los Angeles.
Evans' 3-point attempt with 6.9 seconds left missed the mark, and Randle followed by making one of two free throws to seal the win.
The Pelicans never trailed for three quarters. They held a 71-67 lead heading into the final quarter before things fell apart in the final two minutes.
The Pelicans held a 41-38 edge at the break after a sloppy half for both clubs.
NOTES: Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry took a cautious approach with F Anthony Davis (back contusion). "Maybe if it was a playoff game, we'd stick him out there, but I just don't see a reason to risk anything or for him to overcompensate for something. We'll just what happens (Wednesday) night," Gentry said. The Pelicans travel to Sacramento to face the Kings on Wednesday. ... Lakers F Kobe Bryant, who missed eight games this season due to injury or rest, was averaging 22.0 points on 47 percent shooting with 4.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds in previous games after sitting out. His 3-point accuracy had not recovered, though. Bryant managed just 25 percent. ... The Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.