Ingram scores 26 in return, Pelicans top Lakers 116-108

New Orleans March 28 (BUS): Brandon Ingram scored 26 goals on his comeback from a 10-game absence, and the New Orleans Pelicans tied by 23 points late in the second quarter to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-108 on Sunday. A night in the game with post-season effects for both clubs.

New Orleans had massive support from freshmen Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones. Murphy, 17th overall, scored all 21 of his points in the second half. Jones, who chose to enlist in the second round, earned 16 points and six times his career high, according to the Associated Press.

LeBron James scored seven three-pointers and finished the season with 39 points, but only hit two of his eight shots in the fourth quarter for four, and lost three from depth after hitting seven of his first 10 from a 3-point distance.

The Pelicans’ win (32-43) lifted a half game against the Lakers (31-43) for the ninth seed – and the first of two playing positions – in the Western Conference.

Jonas Valanciunas scored 19 points and 12 rebounds, including a clutch jump hook one minute before the end of the game. CJ McCollum ended his 18-point performance with a float to make it 115-108 with half a minute left.

Malik Monk scored 23 points, repeatedly finding ways to divert contested shots near the edge, but missed 3 in the last minute. Russell Westbrook scored 18 points and Dwight Howard scored 10 rebounds for the Lakers.

Lagging 20 points in the first half, the Pelicans returned to the game by beating the Lakers 41-25 in the third quarter, when Murphy scored 16 of his points. Murphy hit three times during the surge and also threw a backslide with his hands.

Murphy’s right winger cut 3 and lead his fingers when he was hit by a consecutive foul that advanced the Lakers to 90-88, and Los Angeles took a four-point lead in fourth.

James scored 10 quick points, including two in 3 seconds, in the first three minutes and the Lakers advanced 12-0 before McCollum hit a short jump with nearly four minutes left.

3 James VI – from 27 feet – gave him 23 points about four minutes before the end of the second quarter and gave the Lakers a 60-40 lead.

The Lakers drove up to 23 when Westbrook made a 65-42 corner kick before New Orleans closed the gap to 20 by the first half at 69-49.

Hint

Lakers: James now has 30 games from 30 points this season. .. The Lakers shot 52.5% of the total (42 of 80) but missed six of their 16 free throws. … he went 1 of 11 out of a 3-point range in the fourth quarter after going to 13 of 24 in the first three periods.

Pelicans: Larry Nance Jr. rested after playing his first two games since early January on Thursday and Saturday nights. …the Lakers beat 41-39. … Hit 19 out of 24 free throws.

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Lakers: Visit Dallas Tuesday night for the second of three in a row on the road.

Pelicans: Visit Portland on Wednesday to unlock a four-game tour of the West Coast.