Doncic, Ayton and Reaves lead the Lakers past the Pelicans 118-104 to improve to 2-0 in NBA Cup play

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Austin Reaves scored 31, Luka Doncic had 24 points and 12 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 118-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in an NBA Cup game on Friday night.

Deandre Ayton made 10 of 11 shots and finished with 20 points, 16 rebounds, two steals and a block for the Lakers, who improved to 2-0 in cup play to remain atop West Group B.

Trey Murphy III scored 35 for the Pelicans, who lost their fourth straight game, fell to 0-2 in the in-season tournament, and to a Western Conference-worst 2-10 overall.

Rui Hachimura scored 14 and Marcus Smart 13 for the Lakers, who led 65-52 at halftime after Doncic fed Ayton for an alley-oop dunk.

Doncic, Ayton and Reaves all scored during an 11-0 third quarter run that pushed Los Angeles' lead to 88-66, a surged capped by Reaves' 16-foot driving floater as he was fouled by Jose Alvarado.

The Pelicans briefly trimmed the Lakers' lead to eight when Alvarado and Saddiq Bey hit back-to-back 3s to make it 96-88 with more than eight minutes left.

Doncic hit a 12-foot fade and Reaves, who was 11 of 13 on free throws, hit five late foul shots — along with a 13-foot pullup — to help Los Angeles keep New Orleans at bay.

Murphy surpassed 34 points for the second time in four games for New Orleans. Jeremiah Fears had 19 points and eight steals, and Herb Jones scored 13, Bey scored 11 and Derik Queen grabbed 10 rebounds.

Both teams played without their biggest stars. The Lakers' LeBron James is still working his way back from a preseason bout with sciatica and the Pelicans' Zion Williamson remained sidelined by a recent left hamstring strain.

Lakers: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

Pelicans: Host the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) goes to the basket over Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) in the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) goes to the basket past New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) in the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (2) goes to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) in the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward Kevon Looney (55) in the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) leaps for a rebound against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The final score of the Florida game Saturday: Panthers 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 6.

And on the scoreboard, it read “6 7.”

Panthers, meet a phenomenon.

The viral term “6-7” was the talk of the Panthers' locker room after their overtime win, even though the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions — like pretty much everybody else on the planet — have no idea what it means.

“I don't know what is going on with this 6-7 thing,” said Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who scored the winning goal in overtime. “But it's funny that's how it ended tonight.”

It seems possible that Bennett knows more about the craze than he's letting on. In the on-ice postgame interview with Panthers sideline reporter Katie Engleson of Scripps Sports, Bennett made the juggling hands gesture that has become synonymous with whatever 6-7 is.

The 6-7 craze is so popular that Dictionary.com announced the phrase as its word of the year, even though it's not actually a word.

“Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means,” the site said in October when it made the decision.

The popular theory is that 6-7 gained popularity from rapper Skrilla’s song from 2024 called “Doot Doot (6-7)" that made it into TikTok videos and other social media mentions. NFL players have used it in touchdown celebrations as well.

And it's like the Panthers knew a game like this was coming. They played Saturday and play again at home Sunday, which means they're playing on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 — so, yes, they're calling this “6-7 weekend.”

“Yeah, 6-7 night, 6-7 score, I'm sure the kids will have a lot of fun with that,” Panthers forward Brad Marchand said. “I know my kids were up there doing the ol' 6-7 dance. It's fun when those things happen.”

Panthers coach Paul Maurice made clear that he has “no idea” what any of it means.

“I will reiterate there’s a whole bunch of things I don’t need to know or investigate, research, or understand better than I do now,” Maurice said. “So, let’s all just leave it right there.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Florida Panthers celebrate the team's second goal, scored by center Sam Bennett, center, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)