LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 110-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference play-in tournament, securing a playoff berth for the Lakers. James contributed 23 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds in the game.
Despite a stellar performance by Zion Williamson, who scored 40 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his NBA postseason debut, the Pelicans fell short. Williamson left the game with left leg soreness shortly after tying the score at 95 in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Davis also played a key role for the Lakers with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while DeAngelo Russell added 21 points, including five 3-pointers.
The Lakers will now face the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, while the Pelicans will await the winner of the play-in game between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings.
Both teams showcased their shooting skills from beyond the arc, with the Lakers making 14 of 35 3-point attempts and the Pelicans hitting 9 of 29. Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum struggled to find their rhythm for New Orleans, combining for just 20 points.
New Orleans made a comeback in the second half, erasing an 18-point deficit to tie the game. However, the Lakers managed to hold off the Pelicans with key plays down the stretch.
The Lakers dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Pelicans 34-16 to take a double-digit lead into halftime. Despite Williamson's efforts to keep New Orleans in the game, the Lakers' strong shooting performance proved to be the difference.
With this victory, the Lakers advance to face the Nuggets in a highly anticipated first-round matchup, while the Pelicans will look to bounce back in the play-in finale against either the Warriors or the Kings.
Next up, the Lakers will travel to Denver for Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday, while the Pelicans will host the do-or-die play-in game on Friday, possibly without Williamson in the lineup.
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