Facing a shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers team, the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday turned in a dominating performance to pick up a 128-111 victory behind a season-high 36 points from Brandon Ingram.
New Orleans led by as many as 30 points against the Lakers, who were without LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Pelicans forward Zion Williamson recorded 27 points, his 21st straight 20-point game, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18 points.
Pelicans rookie Kira Lewis Jr. produced a career-high 16 points and six assists in 20 minutes off the bench. He finished the contest by shooting 5-of-9 from the field, including a career-high 3-of-5 from 3-point range, to go along with two blocked shots.
“He made shots,” Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy said. “He got the ball up in the air better; that’s one thing I noticed. He had been shooting the ball really flat. He got the ball up in the air and shot it well. He is always pretty good on the attack, (he) hit a little runner. He was active defensively. He was really good tonight.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUee-vmu9hA
Lewis led the Pelicans’ efforts off the bench with Jaxson Hayes chipping in 16 points and Josh Hart adding two points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five steals. Van Gundy praised that group and thought they were key when the starters were out of the game.
For Lewis, the 13th overall pick has had an inconsistent season with playing time up and down but he has often played well in spurts. The added minutes on the court have enabled him to gain more comfortability on the court this season.
“Things are starting to slow down and it just comes with getting the reps in practice or in the games,” Lewis said. “Seeing what guys like to do on the defensive end, their tendencies. Just making the right reads and knowing my teammates’ personnel and just giving them the best opportunity to score.”
Lewis represents part of the Pelicans’ bright future, along with Williamson, Ingram, Alexander-Walker, Hayes and others. His development has been exciting to watch this season for Pelicans fans and that should only continue throughout the rest of the year and beyond.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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