Pelicans 96, Lakers 80: Anthony Davis returned from a one-game absence and finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as New Orleans beat visiting Los Angeles for a franchise-best fourth straight time.

Tyreke Evans contributed 19 points and backcourt mate Eric Gordon finished with 17 points and a season-high 10 assists for New Orleans, which moved back to .500 for the 17th time this season. Quincy Pondexter added 12 points in a reserve role for the Pelicans.

Kobe Bryant returned after resting the previous two games and scored 14 points on 6-for-14 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in 30 minutes, but departed to the locker room with about a minute left. Jordan Hill led the way with 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who lost their season-high sixth straight game

The Pelicans reclaimed the lead on Pondexter's basket at the third-quarter buzzer and then scored the first nine points of the fourth as the Lakers missed their first seven shots, adding up to a 10-point advantage. Lakers guard Nick Young sank a 3-pointer to end the field-goal drought at just over five minutes to start the final quarter, but New Orleans didn’t let the Lakers build any momentum.

Young’s three-point play capped an 8-0 run that gave the Lakers their biggest lead at 42-33 with 4:48 left in the opening half, but the Pelicans stormed back and eventually went up by five with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter on a three-point play by Evans following Bryant’s turnover off a behind-the-back pass. The teams continued to trade leads in the third with Pondexter converting a layup at the buzzer to put New Orleans back on top 69-68.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Pelicans played their fifth straight game without starting PG Jrue Holiday and learned Wednesday they’ll be without their third-leading scorer and leader in assists for another 2-4 weeks because of a stress reaction in his lower-right leg. … The Los Angeles reserves outscored the opponent's bench players for the 11th straight game, 34-24. … Hill matched his career high with his 15th double-double of the season.