As the New Orleans Pelicans head into a crucial period of the season, a refreshed Zion Williamson didn’t need a long scouting report to explain the impact of Dejounte Murray’s return to the lineup. The All-Star and longest-tenured player in the locker room needed only one word.

Smoothie King fans can feel it, too.

“Intensity,” Williamson emphasized. “The intensity that he’s bringing to the game, and not just in the game but in practice, is off the charts. It’s been great for this team. So, you know, to make a long story short, his intensity has produced stats for us.”

The numbers support Williamson. In his first 10 games, Murray averaged 18.7 points, 6.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.7% from the field and 34% from 3-point range.
New Orleans is 5-5 with Murray in the starting lineup, but 9-5 overall since his return, a stretch that has revived optimism around a franchise that spent most of the season searching for stability.

James Borrego has credited Murray’s presence with changing the team’s defensive identity.

“So we’re competing for more shots, there’s more physicality, and we have more size on the floor. We’ve put bigger, more athletic size on the floor,” Borrego explained. “We’re more switchable, and taking away the easy things.”

Borrego pointed to some of the league’s recent success stories as a blueprint, noting that lasting improvement starts with the defense.

“That’s one thing we said during the All-Star break and we discussed it with our team,” Borrego shared. “When you look at the teams that have really made significant leaps within a year or two, Detroit, Phoenix, you can go down the line, Houston, Boston, they’ve done it through their defense. Those top 10 teams that are moving the needle in the Western Conference, they’ve done it through their defense.”

With Murray back on offense, the Pelicans have leaned into that formula. His pace control and pressure on the ball has translated into more contested possession and fewer easy scoring opportunities for opponents. And if Williamson’s assessment is correct, the foundation is less about plan and more about tone.

Intensity, as it turns out, is contagious.

Luka Doncic continues to impress for the Los Angeles Lakers as the team enters a crucial stretch of the season.

Doncic led the Lakers to a 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night with a nearly triple-double performance that highlighted his offensive impact. The star guard finished with 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists while adding three steals and a block in 37 minutes.

He made 17 of 31 shots from the field, including 9 of 14 from three-point range, and converted 8 of his 9 free throw attempts. The performance marked one of Doncic’s most complete performances of the season and led Los Angeles to another impressive win.

The dominant night continued a remarkable stretch for Doncic, who has increased his production during the Lakers’ recent surge. Over the past four games, he has averaged 40.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists, while also contributing 2.5 steals per contest. During that span, he has shot 51 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the free throw line as Los Angeles has won four consecutive games.

Luka Doncic’s impressive season pushes Lakers to top seed in Western Conference

Doncic’s consistency has been central to the Lakers’ success this season. Through 54 games, the 27-year-old is averaging 32.9 points, 8.5 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game, while also recording 1.5 steals per contest. He is shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from three-point range and 77.6 percent from the free throw line while playing 35.5 minutes per game.

His offensive production has helped stabilize the Lakers as they push for position in the Western Conference standings. The win over Chicago improved Los Angeles to 41–25 on the season, moving the team into the third seed.

The Lakers will look to carry their momentum on Saturday when they host the Denver Nuggets (41-26) at 5:30 pm PT on ABC. The matchup could carry significant playoff implications as both teams sit at the top of the conference.

Following the home game, Los Angeles begins a six-game road trip Monday against the Houston Rockets (40-25) at 6:30 p.m. on NBCSN and Peacock as the team moves into a competitive Western Conference race.

There are many words to describe Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic. But for coach JJ Redick, one adjective stands out, and he heard it from an old mentor.

The Lakers earned an easy win for the second consecutive night after defeating the Sacramento Kings 128-104 at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. They defeated the Golden State Warriors 129-101 on Saturday at Chase Center.

Doncic was remarkable in both games. Against the Kings, he had a game-high 28 points on 10 of 16 shooting, five rebounds and nine assists. Despite slipping on the floor in the third quarter, he made a spectacular shot.

When asked about it, coach JJ Redick had the perfect word to describe Doncic: Daring.

“Coach K always used the word ‘courageous,'” he said, referring to his former coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski, in a video posted by Khobi Price of the California Post.

“There is courage in Luka’s game. One of the many reasons that makes him such a special player.”

JJ Redick on this shot from Luka Doncic: “Coach K always used the word daring; daring is in Luka’s game. One of the many reasons that makes him such a special player.” https://t.co/mgJ6yaREa3 pic.twitter.com/F21IikmqFe

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 2 March 2026

Since entering the NBA as a teenager from Slovenia, Doncic has mesmerized fans with his daring performances, including making shots from beyond the three-point area and delivering nearly impossible passes.

He has mastered court angles, using his high intelligence and speed to beat defenders despite his lack of speed and athleticism.

Doncic’s highlight reel is full of how-ever shots he made, and he’ll happily add his wild bucket against the Kings to it.

Redick has known Doncic since they were teammates on the Dallas Mavericks, and while the second-year coach isn’t afraid to rein in his players, he wouldn’t dare demand his prized star change his style.