WGNO

Ingram scores 26 in return, Pelicans top Lakers 116-108

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 26 in his return from a 10-game absence, and the New Orleans Pelicans came back from 23 points down to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-108.

New Orleans rookie Trey Murphy III scored all of his 21 points in the second half.

Fellow rookie Herb Jones had 16 points and a career-high six steals.

Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points and 12 rebounds and CJ McCollum had 18 points for New Orleans.

LeBron James hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 39 points in a loss that dropped the Lakers a half-game behind New Orleans for the ninth seed and first of two play-in spots in the Western Conference.