Lakers jump to 3rd in West standings after win over Pelicans, Nuggets loss

SPORTIVO
Article arrow_drop_down
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena on April 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

The Lakers are part of a competitive seeding race in the West. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

(Luke Hales via Getty Images)

The New Orleans Pelicans wound up being more trouble than expected, but it was a good night for the Los Angeles Lakers in the standings.

With a 124-108 win over a New Orleans team still missing every major contributor, the Lakers moved back into third place in the Western Conference with a 47-30 record. They leapfrogged the 47-31 Denver Nuggets, who were blown out by the Golden State Warriors.

Advertisement

The Lakers shouldn’t have had much trouble with the 21-55 Pelicans with pretty much everyone but Rui Hachimura playing, but it took a while for them to pull away for good. The Pelicans took a lead as large as seven points in the second quarter, and it wasn’t until the fourth quarter the Lakers took a double-digit lead and kept it.

That’s not to say there weren’t highlights, though.

It was a strong enough night for the Lakers that LeBron James had 27 points and finished third on his own team in scoring. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves each posted 30-point games and a combined 13 assists. Reaves also set a Lakers franchise record with 15 3-pointers in his past two games.

Advertisement

Jose Alvarado, appearing to play through some discomfort, led the Pelicans with 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting

The bigger test for the Lakers will be Sunday, when they go on the road to face the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

Warriors blow out short-handed Nuggets, Clippers do the same to short-handed Mavericks

Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the two teams book-ending the Lakers in the West standings entering Friday played each other. Despite playing on the second half of a back-to-back the Warriors didn’t have much trouble with the Nuggets.

A day after beating the Lakers 123-116, the Warriors blew out the Nuggets 118-104. There was no 61-point triple-double from Nikola Jokić this time, nor a return from Jamal Murray. Stephen Curry went off for 36 points, while Brandin Podziemski followed up a career night with 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Advertisement

The Warriors are now 20-2 with Curry and Jimmy Butler playing.

On the other side of Los Angeles, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Clippers while resting Anthony Davis and ran into a buzzsaw. The Clippers led by 13 points at the end of the first quarter, by 23 points at halftime and by as many as 35 points in a 114-91 win.

All of that made for an eventful night in the West’s standings.

Western Conference standings after April 4

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 64-13
2. Houston Rockets, 51-27 (13.5 games back)
3. Los Angeles Lakers 47-30 (17 GB)
4. Denver Nuggets, 47-31 (17.5 GB)
5. Golden State Warriors, 46-31 (18 GB)
T6. Los Angeles Clippers, 45-32 (19 GB)
T6. Memphis Grizzlies, 45-32 (19 GB)
T6. Minnesota Timberwolves, 45-32 (19 GB)
9. Dallas Mavericks, 38-40 (26 GB)
10. Sacramento Kings, 37-40 (27)

This news was originally published on this post .

About the author

About the author call_made

SPORTIVO

More posts

trending_flat
NFL Draft fantasy winners + losers: Warren in Indy is rough + Harvey in Denver is not | Yahoo Fantasy Forecast

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy ForecastThe NFL Draft is in the books and we decided to do something no one has ever done after the draft warps up. We decided to identify the biggest fantasy winners and losers from this year's draft. What a concept! Andy Behrens joins Matt Harmon to pick the guys that had the best landing sports and worst landing spots for fantasy in this year's draft. The two also 'stand on the table' with their boldest rookie fantasy predictions for 2025.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(3:45) - Fantasy loser: Tyler Warren going to the Colts(8:05) - Fantasy loser: Rhamondre Stevenson after Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson(12:30) - Fantasy loser: Kevin Stefanski because that QB depth chart is YIKES(17:50) - Fantasy loser: Emeka Egbuka going to the Bucs(21:40) - Fantasy loser: Rome Odunze after Bears adding two weapons in draft(28:00) - Fantasy loser: Damien […]

trending_flat
Marseille díky hattricku Gúirího přejela Brest a udržela druhé místo

Gúirí odstartoval střelecké představení už po osmi minutách hry. Ve 25. minutě sice ještě stačil srovnat bývalý útočník Slavie Sima, ale ještě do přestávky vrátil Marseille vedení Greenwood a krátce nato Gúirí zvýšil na 3:1. Hattrick alžírský reprezentant zkompletoval v 63. minutě, jeho trefa byla potvrzena až po dlouhém přezkumu videorozhodčího.

trending_flat
2025 NFL Draft Grades! Favorite and least favorite draft classes, top player-team fits | Football 301

Draft grades, favorite Day 3 picks, and the best player-team fits! Nate Tice, Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald break down the biggest winners and losers from the 2025 NFL Draft. Who received the worst draft grade? Which team made the best Day 3 selection? And which player found the perfect fit with their new team? The guys dissect it all in this latest episode.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(3:45) - Favorite draft classes(31:40) - Least favorite draft classes(56:55) - Favorite day three picks(1:03:35) - Favorite player-team fitsTCU WR #18 Jack Bech selected by the Las Vegas Raiders and North Carolina RB #28 Omarion Hampton selected by the Los Angeles Chargers (Photos by Eakin Howard and Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) (Photos by Eakin Howard and Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or […]

trending_flat
Former 2024 5-star recruit Micah Hudson transfers back to Texas Tech after transferring in December

Former five-star recruit Micah Hudson is heading back to Texas Tech after transferring away from the school after the 2024 season.Hudson was a top-10 recruit in the class of 2024 and widely expected to make an immediate impact with the Red Raiders. That didn’t happen. Thanks to injuries, he played in eight games and had eight catches for 123 yards without a TD. Ten players had more catches than Hudson did in 2024.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHudson entered the transfer portal after the season and transferred to Texas A&M. He spent just months with the Aggies, however. In March, Hudson was in the transfer portal again.He’s now heading back to Lubbock.The Temple, Texas, native was the No. 9 recruit in the class of 2024 and the No. 4 wide receiver. He was the top recruit in the state of Texas and his commitment was […]

trending_flat
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow leaves start before 2nd inning with shoulder discomfort

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow left Sunday's game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates after suffering an apparent injury while warming up for the second inning.Glasnow appeared to feel discomfort in his right arm as he threw his final warmup pitches. Following the second-to-last throw, he stretched out his shoulder and shook his arm out a couple of times. After his last warmup pitch, he appeared to be in pain as he stepped off the mound. (Though he likely would have stepped off anyway while catcher Austin Barnes made a throw to second baseman Enrique Hernández.)The right-hander then left the game and the Dodgers soon announced that Glasnow was feeling right shoulder discomfort.This story will be updated.

trending_flat
Knicks vs. Pistons: Refs admit they missed crucial foul call on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s shot at end of Game 4

Getty Images The Detroit Pistons trailed the New York Knicks by a single point with 11.1 seconds left in Game 4 of their first-round series on Sunday. They put the ball in their best player's hands, but Cade Cunningham missed a midrange jumper over OG Anunoby.Sometimes, that's how it goes. If that were all that happened on the final possession, then Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff would not have been screaming at the officials after the buzzer sounded on their 94-93 loss.Bickerstaff was mad about what happened after Cunningham's miss: There was a scramble for the loose ball, and it bounced to Detroit's Tim Hardaway Jr. in the corner. Hardaway got New York's Josh Hart up in the air with a pump fake, then absorbed contact from Hart as he attempted a 3-pointer. The officials did not call a foul, Hardaway's […]

Related

trending_flat
NFL Draft fantasy winners + losers: Warren in Indy is rough + Harvey in Denver is not | Yahoo Fantasy Forecast

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy ForecastThe NFL Draft is in the books and we decided to do something no one has ever done after the draft warps up. We decided to identify the biggest fantasy winners and losers from this year's draft. What a concept! Andy Behrens joins Matt Harmon to pick the guys that had the best landing sports and worst landing spots for fantasy in this year's draft. The two also 'stand on the table' with their boldest rookie fantasy predictions for 2025.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(3:45) - Fantasy loser: Tyler Warren going to the Colts(8:05) - Fantasy loser: Rhamondre Stevenson after Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson(12:30) - Fantasy loser: Kevin Stefanski because that QB depth chart is YIKES(17:50) - Fantasy loser: Emeka Egbuka going to the Bucs(21:40) - Fantasy loser: Rome Odunze after Bears adding two weapons in draft(28:00) - Fantasy loser: Damien […]

trending_flat
Marseille díky hattricku Gúirího přejela Brest a udržela druhé místo

Gúirí odstartoval střelecké představení už po osmi minutách hry. Ve 25. minutě sice ještě stačil srovnat bývalý útočník Slavie Sima, ale ještě do přestávky vrátil Marseille vedení Greenwood a krátce nato Gúirí zvýšil na 3:1. Hattrick alžírský reprezentant zkompletoval v 63. minutě, jeho trefa byla potvrzena až po dlouhém přezkumu videorozhodčího.

trending_flat
2025 NFL Draft Grades! Favorite and least favorite draft classes, top player-team fits | Football 301

Draft grades, favorite Day 3 picks, and the best player-team fits! Nate Tice, Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald break down the biggest winners and losers from the 2025 NFL Draft. Who received the worst draft grade? Which team made the best Day 3 selection? And which player found the perfect fit with their new team? The guys dissect it all in this latest episode.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(3:45) - Favorite draft classes(31:40) - Least favorite draft classes(56:55) - Favorite day three picks(1:03:35) - Favorite player-team fitsTCU WR #18 Jack Bech selected by the Las Vegas Raiders and North Carolina RB #28 Omarion Hampton selected by the Los Angeles Chargers (Photos by Eakin Howard and Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) (Photos by Eakin Howard and Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or […]

trending_flat
Former 2024 5-star recruit Micah Hudson transfers back to Texas Tech after transferring in December

Former five-star recruit Micah Hudson is heading back to Texas Tech after transferring away from the school after the 2024 season.Hudson was a top-10 recruit in the class of 2024 and widely expected to make an immediate impact with the Red Raiders. That didn’t happen. Thanks to injuries, he played in eight games and had eight catches for 123 yards without a TD. Ten players had more catches than Hudson did in 2024.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHudson entered the transfer portal after the season and transferred to Texas A&M. He spent just months with the Aggies, however. In March, Hudson was in the transfer portal again.He’s now heading back to Lubbock.The Temple, Texas, native was the No. 9 recruit in the class of 2024 and the No. 4 wide receiver. He was the top recruit in the state of Texas and his commitment was […]

trending_flat
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow leaves start before 2nd inning with shoulder discomfort

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow left Sunday's game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates after suffering an apparent injury while warming up for the second inning.Glasnow appeared to feel discomfort in his right arm as he threw his final warmup pitches. Following the second-to-last throw, he stretched out his shoulder and shook his arm out a couple of times. After his last warmup pitch, he appeared to be in pain as he stepped off the mound. (Though he likely would have stepped off anyway while catcher Austin Barnes made a throw to second baseman Enrique Hernández.)The right-hander then left the game and the Dodgers soon announced that Glasnow was feeling right shoulder discomfort.This story will be updated.

trending_flat
Knicks vs. Pistons: Refs admit they missed crucial foul call on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s shot at end of Game 4

Getty Images The Detroit Pistons trailed the New York Knicks by a single point with 11.1 seconds left in Game 4 of their first-round series on Sunday. They put the ball in their best player's hands, but Cade Cunningham missed a midrange jumper over OG Anunoby.Sometimes, that's how it goes. If that were all that happened on the final possession, then Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff would not have been screaming at the officials after the buzzer sounded on their 94-93 loss.Bickerstaff was mad about what happened after Cunningham's miss: There was a scramble for the loose ball, and it bounced to Detroit's Tim Hardaway Jr. in the corner. Hardaway got New York's Josh Hart up in the air with a pump fake, then absorbed contact from Hart as he attempted a 3-pointer. The officials did not call a foul, Hardaway's […]

Be the first to leave a comment

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity.

About SPORTIVO

Sportivo Network is a dedicated social platform for sports enthusiasts, athletes, and scouts. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete looking for opportunities, a coach searching for talent, or simply a sports lover wanting to connect with like-minded people, Sportivo is your go-to network. With features like direct messaging, profile showcasing, and talent scouting, Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity. Here, you can share your achievements, interact with professionals, and open doors to the next level in your sports journey. Join Sportivo Network – because every great athlete deserves to be discovered!
Copyright © 2025 SPORTIVO News. and SPORTIVO Network. All rights reserved.

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation