Williams Leads Lakers Past Pelicans, 95-91, To End 4-Game Skid

After Julius Randle hit the go-ahead shot with 43 seconds left, Williams added a clutch running jumper with 18 seconds to play. Los Angeles hung on to win the meeting of the Western Conference's worst teams, surviving a back-and-forth fourth quarter for just its ninth win of the season.

Kobe Bryant scored seven points in 16 minutes before leaving for good shortly before halftime due to a sore Achilles tendon.

Tyreke Evans scored 21 points for the Pelicans, who lost their fourth straight. New Orleans struggled late without Anthony Davis, who sat out with a bruised back.

Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points for the Lakers. D'Angelo Russell played after missing one game with a sprained ankle, and the rookie put the Lakers ahead with a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter.

The Pelicans scored the next 10 points, but the Lakers rallied and eventually went ahead on Williams' jumper with 1:16 to play.

ANTHONY DOWN

Davis missed his second straight game after diving into the stands for a loose ball, and the Pelicans dropped to 0-5 without him in their lineup this season. He considered playing against the Lakers, but the Pelicans elected to be cautious with their franchise big man.

BRYANT'S WOES

Bryant missed the Lakers' last game with the same injury, and the 20-year veteran sat on the bench during the first half with a large ice wrap on his balky right shoulder, which kept him out for three games earlier this month.

Bryant's last three seasons ended early because of injuries, and the 37-year-old superstar is missing even more time lately. He went 3 for 9 against the Pelicans, missing all five of his 3-point attempts, before theLakers decided to give him an early night.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: Coach Alvin Gentry praised Bryant before the game: "Every year, he got better at some facet of his game. His desire to be the best player that ever played the game just comes through." ... New Orleans made its second stop on a three-game California road trip.

Lakers: Brandon Bass scored six points before turning his right ankle and missing the final minutes. ... Clarkson missed his first eight shots before converting a four-point play midway through the third quarter. ... Yasiel Puig, Jack Black and Aziz Ansari attended the game.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: Visit Sacramento on Wednesday.

Lakers: Visit Golden State on Thursday.

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