Davis scores 41 in return to Big Easy

NEW ORLEANS» Anthony Davis shrugged off a constant cascade of boos and reminded a packed crowd exactly what it lost when the six-time all-star’s trade request was finally fulfilled.

Davis capped a 41-point performance in his return to New Orleans by intercepting Jrue Holiday’s inbounds pass with 5 seconds left and making a pair of game-sealing free throws, and the Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to nine with a 114-110 victory over the Pelicans on Wednesday night.

“Obviously, the emotions was high,” Davis said. “I think this game was circled on both calendars. And they came out guns blazing and we were able to come out with the win.”

An energetic crowd booed Davis during introductions and virtually every time he handled the ball, only to see him and new teammate LeBron James take over in the fourth quarter.

James had 29 points and 11 assists, scoring 15 points in the final period, when Kyle Kuzma added nine of his 16 points to help the Lakers erase a 10-point deficit.

“My teammates kept telling me, ‘A.D., don’t worry about it. We’re going to get this win. We’ll find a way to win it for you,’ ” said Davis, who spent his first seven years in New Orleans.

“Any time you go back to a place where you’ve made a mark, where you started your career ... and gave a lot to the community and the franchise, you want to come back and play well and win,” James said. “We knew that as his brothers and we wanted to try and fulfill that goal.”

Davis executed about every move New Orleans fans knew and loved when he wore the No. 23 in blue, red and gold, from soaring alley-oop dunks to turnaround baseline fades.

Only this time, he wore a gold jersey with a purple No. 3, and it was his misses that drew roars from the crowd.