The Los Angeles Lakers made some changes in the starting line-up ahead of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Veteran guard Rajon Rondo was re-inserted into the starting line-up, and it worked wonders for the team. After the game, Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James praised Rondo, saying he was instrumental in helping the team win.

“I think with Zo [Lonzo Ball] out and our turnover situation as of late, just bringing another ball handler in there, another natural point guard in there, will just help us all. With me and B.I. [Ingram] not having to have all the ball-handling responsibilities in the first lineup, bringing ‘Do [Rondo] in there, it just gives us another mind first of all. The cerebral part of it all is huge. And then it just keeps us with some stability out there.”

Rondo finished with 11 points, 16 assists, and seven boards in 38 minutes, and the Lakers earned a much needed 125-119 victory against the Pelicans.

The Lakers were able to control most of the game with Rondo facilitating the offense. They kept their composure and prevented the Pelicans from making any kind of run. What's more important is that with Rondo leading the way, the Lakers were able to limit their turnovers.

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“We were able to get pace. We had 19 fast-break points. We had 37 assists. Between me and ‘Do, we had 26 assists and [the team] only had eight turnovers. Obviously that ratio was ridiculous. That's some Golden State s— right there. … By us not turning the ball over, it allowed us to set our half-court defense and we looked pretty damn good.”

The Lakers are trying to make a last ditch effort to make the playoffs, and with 21 games left, they will need to continue to play with more urgency. Things will be tougher for them moving forward, and they need to double their efforts if they want to make the playoffs.

The Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks will pay them a visit on Friday.