New Orleans Pelicans rally from 23 down, deal Los Angeles Lakers tough loss in key game in West

NEW ORLEANS — What started as a promising weekend for the New Orleans Pelicans slowly was turning into a nightmare.

In a pivotal back-to-back set against the two teams they're battling in the Western Conference play-in race, the Pelicans lost by four points to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, then found themselves down 23 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

But after a 41-point third quarter, the Pelicans pushed through for a 116-108 victory, sliding into ninth place in the West with a half-game lead on the Lakers and a 1½-game lead on the Spurs.

«We made a few adjustments at halftime just challenging our group to be more disciplined,» Pelicans coach Willie Green said. «We were kind of all over the place. To their credit, they came out and punched us in the mouth right away. We hung in there. We were just resilient all game long. The goal and the key for us is don't try to get it back at one time. Just one stop. One score at a time. We're just so proud in the locker room. That was growth.»

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, it was the largest blown lead in a game LeBron James has suited up for the Lakers. After the game, he called the loss a «microcosm» of the team's season.

«We haven't been able to sustain all year and tonight was one of those instances once again,» James said. «It feels like s---. I mean, excuse my language, but that's what it feels like. I came in with the mindset understanding it was a playoff-type atmosphere, playoff implications and things of that nature.… It feels like a wasted opportunity, obviously, for myself and for our team. We weren't able to get it done.»

Lakers coach Frank Vogel said the team needs to quickly turn the page to Tuesday's game against the Mavericks in