After a tough loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves the night before, the Los Angeles Lakers were looking to start the new year with a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Lakers, on the other hand, ended 2023 with a 17-17 record, dropping them to.500 after suffering a heartbreaking 129-109 loss to the Pelicans.

In lieu of Cam Reddish, Rui Hachimura got the start and made Los Angeles’ first basket of the game, but the team fell behind 11-4 in the first minutes of play. The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram each had one basket, but the Lakers’ deficit at the half was only 21-17.

LeBron James’ fastbreak layup gave the Lakers their first lead of the game, and CJ McCollum gave the Pelicans a 10-point cushion. The Lakers were behind 42–33 because their defence was essentially nonexistent.

They didn’t help themselves much to start the second, as Los Angeles was a half step behind on both ends of the floor. Although Anthony Davis had a highlight-reel block, the Pelicans easily outscored their opponents and increased their lead to sixteen.

James made back-to-back three-pointers to narrow the deficit to just ten points, but Herb Jones responded with two threes of his own to keep the Lakers at bay. Despite James’s many aggressive attempts, Los Angeles was behind at the half, 74-57.

Halfway through the second quarter, Hachimura sustained a left calf injury that required him to sit out the remainder of the game.

Reaves took Hachimura’s spot at the start of the second half and immediately scored his first basket with a corner 3-pointer. Like in the first half, James was able to pull Los Angeles within striking distance, but the Lakers were still trailing 86-74.

James was able to electrify the crowd with a forceful slam during the transition, but he was unable to capitalise on the next possession after missing a challenging layup. Because of Davis’s foul problems, New Orleans was able to reach the century mark at the end of the third quarter, and Los Angeles started the fourth quarter trailing 104-89.

The Lakers failed to overcome their disadvantage for a large portion of the fourth quarter’s first quarter. Every time the squad had a chance to tie the score, a missed shot or ill-timed turnover made the comeback more difficult.

With time running out, the purple and gold fought valiantly to try to make one more run. But they would be unable to muster any sort of momentum, and would instead head home empty-handed.