Lakers can’t keep pace at the finish with younger Pelicans

Pelicans 96, Lakers 85 (final)

The New Orleans Pelicans pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Lakers by 11 points.

The Lakers ran out of gas against the younger, athletic Pelicans, especially with second-year forward-center Anthony Davis providing a dominant performance with a career-high 32 points. Davis also had 12 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Lakers guard Nick Young hit a pair of free throws with 3 1/2 minutes left to bring the Lakers to within three points, but New Orleans went on to score the next 12 points, extending the lead to 96-81. Jordan Farmar finally hit a layup with 28.7 seconds left to stop the Pelicans’ run.

With the loss, the Lakers fall to 3-4 on the season. They shot only 38.8% from the field and 31.6% from behind the three-point arc in New Orleans.

The Pelicans shot 43.7% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. Point guard Jrue Holiday had 13 points and 13 assists while guard Eric Gordon added 16 points for New Orleans.

Five Lakers scored in double figures but Pau Gasol didn’t score in the second half, finishing with nine points on 3-of-12 shooting.

Steve Nash did not play against the Pelicans on the second night of back-to-back games.

Steve Blake finished with 13 points and eight assists in Nash’s place at point guard. Jodie Meeks got the start at two guard, scoring 11 points.

The Lakers return to Los Angeles after a 1-2 road trip, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

The Pelicans visit the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

Pelicans 69, Lakers 66 (end of third quarter)

Neither team had an easy time scoring in the third quarter. The Lakers held the Pelicans to only14 points, trimming the seven-point halftime deficit to three.

The Lakers are being led by Chris Kaman’s 16 points and Nick Young’s 11. The Lakers have shot 40.3% from the field and only 23.1% from three-point range.

Jrue Holiday led the Pelicans with nine assists while Steve Blake dished eight for the Lakers.

Anthony Davis had 21 points with 11 boards and four blocked shots for the Pelicans, who shot 41.5% from the field.

The two teams combined for 15 turnovers, eight by the Lakers.

Pelicans 55, Lakers 48 (halftime)

The Pelicans went on a late surge to push a one-point lead to seven at the half.

Anthony Davis notched a double-double in 18 1/2 minutes with 15 points and 10 boards to lead both teams.

Chris Kaman (10 points) and Pau Gasol (nine) combined to shoot 7 of 14 from the field. Their teammates, though, shot only 10 of 27 (37%). The Lakers also missed seven free throws (13 of 20) and seven three-point attempts (1 of 8).

New Orleans shot 50% from the field.

Pelicans 28, Lakers 27 (end of first quarter)

Jordan Farmar scored the final four points of the first quarter to help pull the Lakers to within a point of the host New Orleans Pelicans.

Anthony Davis had 13 points and eight rebounds in less than 11 minutes of play in helping the Pelicans build a six-point lead.

Chris Kaman scored eight points to lead the Lakers.

Steve Blake started at the point guard for Steve Nash, who sat out the second night of back-to-back games fo the Lakers, who won in Houston on Thursday night.

Jodie Meeks stepped into the starting lineup at the other guard spot.

Pregame

The Lakers (3-3) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (2-3) on Friday night in the second night of consecutive games.

After Thursday night’s emotional victory over the Houston Rockets, the Lakers hope to get their second win in as many nights against the young, athletic Pelicans.

The Lakers are expected to sit Steve Nash when the team plays on consecutive nights.

For a more in-depth breakdown, check out Preview: Lakers vs. Pelicans.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.