LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic’s hot starts to games aren’t surprising.
Entering Sunday as the league’s leading scorer in the first quarter with 12.3 points, it’s almost become customary for Doncic to do heavy lifting for the Lakers to start games.
And Doncic’s strong start against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena gave the Lakers the boost they needed, with the Lakers beating the Pelicans 133-121 for their seventh-straight victory.
With LeBron James (left foot injury management) not available for the first game of the Lakers’ home back-to-back set, with the team hosting the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, Doncic (34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists) paced the Lakers (15-4) early on, recording 20 points of his scoring total in the opening quarter.
Austin Reaves added 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Deandre Ayton had 22 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Doncic’s hot start helped the Lakers jump out to a 46-27 lead at the end of the first quarter, the most points the Lakers have scored in any quarter this season and tied for fifth-most points in a first quarter in franchise history.
The Lakers led by as many as 26 (74-48) late in the second, taking a 77-57 lead into the second half.
But they took their foot off the gas, especially defensively, with the Pelicans (3-18) scoring 74 second-half points.
New Orleans was led by Bryce McGowen’s 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Saddiq Bey had a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double, while rookie guard Jeremiah Fears had 21 points.
Ayton asked to be subbed out with 7:14 remaining after he and Pelicans rookie big man Derik Queen made knee-to-knee contact, with Ayton’s right knee taking a hit. Ayton sat out Tuesday’s win over the Clippers because of a right knee contusion he suffered in the Nov. 23 road win over the Utah Jazz.