The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just win — they imposed their will. On Friday, November 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM CT, they crushed the New Orleans Pelicans 118-104 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a defining NBA Cup Group Play matchup. The victory wasn’t pretty in flashes — it was brutal, efficient, and utterly dominant. And at the center of it all? Luka Dončić, who turned in a performance that blurred the line between genius and inevitability: 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. He was five rebounds away from a triple-double — and everyone in the building knew it.

The Run That Broke the Pelicans

It started with a steal. Then a transition three. Then a Dončić no-look dime to Lorravia for a thunderous alley-oop. By the time the first quarter clock hit 3:54, the Los Angeles Lakers had ripped off an 18-0 run that turned a tight game into a landslide. The Pelicans, who entered the night with the worst point differential in the Western Conference among the top nine teams, looked lost. No one had answers. No one had energy. The defense? Nonexistent. The offense? Stagnant. The Lakers, meanwhile, moved like a well-oiled machine — passing, cutting, attacking every gap.

"They kept pushing all the way out on top," one Pelicans assistant told reporters after the game. "And when you give Luka that much space, you’re signing your own death warrant."

Dončić: The Engine of the Machine

Dončić didn’t just play — he orchestrated. His 10 rebounds were a surprise even to his teammates. He wasn’t known as a rebounder, not like that. But against New Orleans’ smaller frontcourt, he carved out space like a veteran center. He held his defender at bay with a shoulder fake, then fired a lob to Lorravia for a dunk. He drew two defenders on a pick-and-roll, then slipped the ball to a trailing guard for a wide-open corner three. His vision? Unmatched. His composure? Ice cold.

"He’s not just a scorer," said Lakers head coach Darvin Ham in the postgame locker room. "He’s a conductor. And tonight, the whole orchestra was in tune."

Pelicans’ Struggles Run Deeper Than One Loss

The final score doesn’t tell the full story. The Pelicans, who had been banking on home-court advantage in this cup format, were outworked, outsmarted, and outclassed. Their star shooter, Trey Murphy III, who ranked second on the team in three-pointers made according to a November 13, 2025 practice report, went 3-for-10 from deep. His shots rattled in and out — the kind of luck that evaporates when pressure mounts.

"We’ve been on the road a long time," said one Pelicans player, speaking anonymously after the game. "But this? This wasn’t about travel. This was about us not being who we said we were."

Defense was the issue. Not just in this game — in all of them. The Pelicans have allowed 116.8 points per game this season, the fourth-worst mark in the West. Their point differential sits at -4.2. That’s not a fluke. That’s a systemic problem. And after this loss, it’s no longer a talking point — it’s a crisis.

The NBA Cup Format: A New Test for the Lakers

This wasn’t just a regular season game. It was part of the inaugural NBA Cup Group Play , a new tournament structure introduced this season that counts toward both the regular season standings and a separate cup championship. The Lakers have now completed both of their road games in the cup format. Their next two — both at Crypto.com Arena — are against the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Both are winnable. Both are dangerous.

"We’re not just playing for wins anymore," said Dončić after the game. "We’re playing for something bigger. This cup? It’s real. And we’re not letting it slip."

What’s Next for Both Teams?

The Lakers now sit comfortably atop their cup group, with momentum, chemistry, and a superstar playing at an MVP level. Their bench, led by Lorravia’s aggressive finishes and defensive hustle, has emerged as a legitimate weapon. If they can maintain this intensity against Dallas and the Clippers, they’re serious cup contenders.

The Pelicans? They’re staring at a crossroads. Their offense is too reliant on Murphy and Alvarado’s drives. Their defense is porous. Their identity? Unclear. Coach Micah Peavy, who addressed the team’s defensive approach during the pregame shootaround on November 14, will need to make drastic adjustments — or risk falling out of playoff contention entirely.

"We’ve got to feel like a physical team again," Peavy told reporters. "Not just talk about it. Live it."

For now, the Lakers are living it. And the rest of the league is taking notice.