The Los Angeles Lakers erased the sting of a devastating loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a commanding 118-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ shooting guard, dropped 31 points — his highest of the season — to lead the charge, turning what looked like a crumbling road trip into a statement win. The victory snapped a two-game skid and improved the Lakers’ record to 3-2 on their five-game Western Conference swing, a stretch that had felt longer than the calendar suggested. "We’ve been gone for seven weeks," Reaves said afterward, chuckling. "But we can leave this trip with a winning record. That’s something."

From Disaster to Redemption

Just three nights earlier, the Lakers had been humiliated by the Thunder, scoring a season-low 92 points — 26 below their average — while shooting 11 percentage points worse from the field. They dished out seven fewer assists and turned the ball over 20 times, handing Oklahoma City 26 easy points off mistakes. The game was a wake-up call. "Lakers got a reality check," said one commentator on the YouTube highlights. "James tried to make me cry early. OKC trashed them." This time, there was no such collapse. The Lakers held New Orleans to 43% shooting and forced 16 turnovers, turning them into 22 points. They outscored the Pelicans 32-18 in transition — a glaring weakness the coaching staff had identified after the Thunder loss. "We’re last in transition points," noted the same analyst. "That’s gotta change tonight." And it did.

Reaves Leads, Larabio Delivers

Reaves wasn’t alone. Jake Larabio, a 24-year-old forward making his first career start, turned a forced turnover into a thunderous fast-break dunk that electrified the sparse Lakers contingent in the stands. "Now, the Lakers take it away. Jake Larabio all the way to score," the commentator yelled. "That’s what freed him up — Alvarado got trapped, and Eaton was waiting. That defensive stop? That’s worth two threes." New Orleans’ Jose Alvarado, the Pelicans’ tenacious guard, tried to spark a rally with a slick drive to the rim, but Lakers center Eaton (full name not officially confirmed in post-game reports) timed his block perfectly — the kind of play that doesn’t show up in box scores but shifts momentum. "That pleases Doncic as much as hitting a three-pointer," the commentator joked — a curious reference, given Luka Dončić isn’t on the Lakers roster. Likely a misstatement, but it captured the spirit: defense wins games. The Pelicans, led by 28 points from Zion Williamson, never led after the 4:12 mark of the first quarter. Even their late rally — capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Brandon Ingram — couldn’t erase the 14-point deficit. "Still a good solid 14-point win," the analyst concluded.

Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score

The NBA Cup — officially the In-Season Tournament, organized by the National Basketball Association — isn’t just a side event. For teams like the Lakers, who are still jockeying for playoff positioning in the brutal Western Conference, every win counts. This wasn’t just about momentum. It was about identity. After the Thunder game, head coach Darvin Ham admitted the team had lost its defensive discipline. "We weren’t moving. We weren’t communicating. We were just hoping," he said. Against the Pelicans, they moved. They rotated. They contested every shot. And Reaves? He played with the urgency of a man who knows his contract year is looming. The Lakers’ field goal percentage jumped to 55% — a stark contrast to the 44% against OKC. Their assist total? 28, up from 21. Turnovers? Down to 12. The numbers told the story: this wasn’t luck. It was correction.

What’s Next?

The Lakers’ road trip continues with back-to-back games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets — both top-three teams in the West. But if they can replicate this level of defensive focus and offensive balance, they’ll enter the Christmas break with real momentum. Meanwhile, the Pelicans, now 5-7 on the season, face a tough stretch against the Warriors and Clippers. Their window to climb out of the playoff cellar is narrowing. The Los Angeles Lakers, owned by Jeanie Buss and run by Rob Pelinka, remain a team in transition — but Friday night proved they’re still capable of playing at the level of a contender.