By Rell Wright Pelicans Contributor

The New Orleans Pelicans fought valiantly but fell short in a 136-115 loss to the surging Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Zion Williamson delivered a spectacular performance, scoring 36 points on an efficient 17-of-23 shooting while adding six assists.

Trey Murphy III chipped in with 19 points, providing a solid offensive boost. However, New Orleans struggled to slow down the Lakers’ high-powered offense, led by LeBron James, who not only scored 34 points but also became the first player in NBA history to surpass 50,000 combined points in the regular season and playoffs.

The Pelicans’ defensive issues were compounded by Luka Doncic‘s masterful playmaking for the Lakers. Doncic finished with 30 points, 15 assists, and eight rebounds, orchestrating a balanced attack that saw multiple Lakers step up in the absence of injured starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.

New Orleans, sitting in 14th place in the Western Conference, can take solace in Williamson’s dominance and an encouraging 2-2 road trip but will need to tighten their defensive rotations as they prepare to host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.