Lakers 110 - 106 Pelicans summary, stats, scores and highlights | Play-In Tournament
With the game in the balance, LA went to the hot hand from the first quarter. D'Angelo Russell drills the game sealer in the corner and punched the Lakers ticket to the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. They will play the two seed Denver Nuggets in a rematch of last year's Western Conference Final.
The Pelicans will obviously be concerned about the status of Zion Williamson, but they have to turn their attention to the second Play-In game on Thursday against the winner of the Golden State vs. Sacramento game.
This was an awful sight to see. Zion leaving late in the game after the best performance of his career. It's been his healthiest season ever, and to see him go down long term would be devastating. He went face to face, blow for blow with LeBron and had a chance to take down the King before having to leave the court with a leg injury.
Pelicans coach Willie Green says it's left leg soreness but he will get more tests tomorrow.
The Lakers led by as many as 18 in the second quarter, but the Pelicans would mount a late comeback and tie the game with around five minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Zion and New Orleans built up a 13-2 run which would tie up the game, but he would have to miss the final few minutes.
Although the highlights have been very LeBron centric, there were other Lakers that had big games. Having said that, enjoy some more of the King.
Zion had maybe his best NBA game ever, and he did it in his first post season game against The King. Both of them went blow for blow taking turns dominating for long stints of the game. Zion had a season high 40 points, 11 rebounds and a couple of big plays on the defensive end but left the game late in the fourth quarter with a left leg injury.
LeBron had double digit assists in the first quarter in Sunday's game against the Pelicans. He was a rebound and an assist away from back to back triple-doubles in the final game of the season and the first game of the postseason.
Russell was unstoppable in the opening quarter. He had three triples and 13 points in the first 12 minutes of the game. He would slow down as the game went on but saved some big shots for late in the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers secured the seventh seed in the playoffs by going into New Orleans and beating the Pelicans for the second straight game. LeBron had 23 point to lead a Lakers team that say three of their starters score 20 or more.
Lebron and D'Angelo Russell helped the Lakers absorb an early blow from the Pelicans in the first quarter. Zion Willamson and LeBron went at it all night long, and in the end it was LeBron who came out on top.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, and they will take on the Denver Nuggets in the 2 vs. 7 matchup.
The Pelicans will have to play the winner of the Warriors vs. Kings match up.
Davis to the line after the foul on McCollum and he hits both FTs.
Back door pass from McCollum to Nance for another easy lay up.
McCollum sends Reaves to the line and he hits both FTs.
McCollum gets an open lane to the bucket and he takes it for a lay up.
James air balled a shot from the baseline but Davis fights for the offensive board and gets fouled by Nance! HE hits both and the Pels take a timeout with 14.1 to go.
McCollum scaling the FT line and he hits the fade away!
Timeout Lakers with 38.2 to go in the 4th.
Reaves with the drive and kickout for Russell in the corner and he drills it!
Timeout Pelicans with 50 to go.
Nance to the line after the foul on Russell and he hits one of two FTs with 1:08 to go.
Reaves drives down the lane, drawing the defender and lobbing it up for AD for the alley oop.
Murphy down the left side of the lane and he floats it up and in over AD.
LeBron drills it from the baseline over Jones.
Alvarado on the drive and dump off for Nance for the jam.
Zion has gone back to the locker room after limping off the floor before the timeout.
LeBron to the line after the foul on Murphy and he hits both FTs with under 3:00 to go.
Williamson at the top of the key and he takes AD off the dribble for the lay up. Zion has a season high 40 points on the night!
Timeout Lakers with 3:19 to go in the 4th quarter!
Davis got blocked by Alvarado who is doing everything for the Pelicans right now, but AD got his own rebound and put it back up and in.
Timeout Pelicans with 3:29 to go in the fourth.
Zion spins down low and Alvarado lobbed it up for the alley oop! It's all tied up!
Alvarado finds Zion who snuck back door for the slam!
Reaves with a huge bucket on the floater in the lane and the Pelicans are going to take a timeout with 5:21 to go in the 4th.
Zion with a block on LeBron on one end, and he finds Alavarado for the catch and shoot three ball from the wing!
Zion to the line after the foul on Zion and he hits one of two FTs.
Murphy lights up a thee ball from the Smoothie King logo again! It's a six point game!
Zion goes right past Davis and lays it up with his back to the basket.
Davis fighting for his own rebound down low and he puts it up and in.
Alvarado drops it off to Murphy for the jam after two defenders went chasing him.
Timeout Lakers with 8:59 to go in this opening Play-In game.
Russell with his fourth three of the game, this one from the corner and that's the first one since the opening quarter.
Alvarado on the backdoor cut for the lay up after Ingram found him.
James hits Vincent cutting to the cup and he gets the runner in the lane to go AND 1! FT is good.
Zion to the line and he hits one of two to end the quarter.
We are headed to the fourth quarter with the Pels down by 7!
ZIon got fouled at the buzzer by Davis but the refs are going to take a look at the clock to make sure the foul stands.
Murphy pulls up from the Smoothie King logo and drills it! It's and 8 point game!
Zion was fouled by Russell and he hits both FTs for 30 on the night.
Hachimura down the right side of the lane and he bodies up Daniels to get to the rack for a lay up.
Nance with the offensive board and put back reverse slam.
Davis to the line after the foul on Daniels and he hits both FTs.
Alvarado to the rack and he lays it up and in high off the glass.
Zion back off the dribble and he goes into AD for the lay up. That's 28 for Zion.
Long outlet from Vincent to Davis who was cherry picking and he gets the wide open slam.
James goes up and under ZIon and scoops it up for a lay up with the shot clock running down.
Alvarado with a quick trigger three ball in the corner out of the timeout!
Zion on the break and he attacked LeBron on the lay up off the glass.
Timeout Lakers with 5:08 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Zion driving to the bucket and lays it up after the foul on Hachimura down low. FT is no good.
Hacimura spinning to the lane and he lays it up and in.
Zion going back into traffic and he gets it to fall.
LeBron working his magic, and lays a dime on Reaves for a lay up.
Hachimura was left open on the wing and he drills the three ball! He's got 9 in the quarter and the lead is up to 16!
Ingram to the line after the foul on Davis and he hits both FTs.
James to the line after the foul on Jones and he hits both FTs.
Reaves trailing the play after coming up with steal on the other end and Hachimura found him for the scoop lay up.
Timeout Pelicans with 8:46 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Hachimura to the line after the foul on Jones and he hits one of two FTs.
Jones answers back with a three ball in the corner.
Reaves in the corner and he starts the third quarter off with a three ball!
WE ARE BACK IN ACTION FROM NEW ORLEANS!
It has been a battle between Zion and LeBron tonight. Zion has 20 and 8 rebounds at half while LeBron dropped 15, has 4 rebounds and 5 assists. The Lakers took the lead from the Pels and then went on a 13-0 run in route to a second quarter that they dominated 34-16.
Russell was lighting it up from downtown in the first half, especially the first quarter. He's got 15 on 5/8 shooting from the field.
Zioin has been using his size and explosiveness like we hadn't seen in the other Pelicans match ups with the Lakers. He knows he will be compared to LeBron tonight, and he has come play tonight.
Brandon Ingram came back from injury in Sunday's season finale against the Lakers and got the start tonight. He wasted no time making his impact on the game. ZIon is looking in the mood in his first postseason game.
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME WITH THE LAKERS UP 10 AFTER A 34-16 SECOND QUARTER!!
James fouled by Zion and he hits both FTs with just seconds left on the clock.
Zion goes baseline to baseline in 4 seconds and beats the buzzer with a lay up off the glass!
Ingram slings it to Zion underneath for the second time he slams it home with two hands.
Ingram dribbles across the lane and hits the fader to snap the 13-0 Lakers run.
James drew the foul on Nance with under a second on the shot clock and he hits both FTs.
James to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul by Nance.
Reaves to the line after the foul on Nance and he hits both FTs
Prince out of the timeout and he drills another three ball from the wing!
Timeout Lakers with 3:41 to go in the first half.
James glides to the bucket after slicing through the defense for the lay up.
LeBron goes coast to coast by bullying his way to the rim for a lay up in transition.
Ingram euro steps his way past Hachimura and lays it up and in!
Davis to the line after the foul on Valanciunas and he hits one of two FTs.
Reaves with the kickout from the paint to Hachimura and he nails a three from the top of the key!
Zion to the line after the foul on Prince and he hits both FTs.
Zion goes into a pack of bodies and somehow gets it to fall off the glass.
Catch and shoot from Vincent off the kick out from Reaves and he's got a couple threes off the bench.
McCollum hits a tough jumper falling out of bounds from the baseline.
Prince comes out of the timeout and drills the three ball from the wing off the kick out from Russell.
Russell continues his hot shooting night with a mid range jumper and the Pelicans need a timeout after a 9-0 Lakers run.
LeBron picks up the loose ball and dumps it off for Hayes for a huge jam!
Zion got his shot blocked and LeBron was waiting on the other end for the wide open slam!
Vincent in the corner and he drills the three with a hand in his face.
Williams starts the quarter with an elbow jumper. He's got 12 points on 6/7.
We are headed to the end of the first quarter!
The Pelicans lead by eight after a great start from Williamson who has 10 and Jones who had 7. Russell has been the hot hand for LA with 13. LeBron has 3 and AD has 5.
Zion kicks it out to Jones in the corner and he drills the three ball!
Alvarado and Russell get into a little dust up and a little headbutt from Alvarado is going to get T'd up. After review the T'd up Russell to for clapping in the face of Alvarado.
Lay off from Nance to Williamson who goes flying to the iron for the jam.
Russell is red hot from downtown! He drills it from the wing and that's 13 for the LA PG.
Zion wills his way into the lane and gets the leaner to fall in traffic.
Russell pulls up from outside the lane and he got 10 already.
Zion takes Hachimura off the dribble and bursts to the bucket for a lay up off the glass.
Timeout Lakers with under 3:00 to go in the first quarter.
Murphy off the bench and he is on the board with a mid range jumper from the baseline.
McCollum finds Nance in the corner, and after a little hesitation he drills the three ball!
Hachimura drills a mid range jumper for his first points of the night.
Timeout with 5:10 to go in the first quarter.
Jones streaks to the iron and had his shot blocked by James who got there late and was called for a goal tend.
Davis spots up from right out side the land and hits the jumper from outside the lane.
McCollum on the board for the first time tonight. He hits the three ball from the top of the key! He needs to get hot tonight if NO is going to win.
Russell steps back from the wing and hits it over Jones!
Jones drives and Jones lays it up over Davis.
James dishes it to Russell on the perimeter and he hits strokes the three ball on the break.
Davis to the line after the foul on Valanciunas and he hits one of two FTs.
Zion puts his head down and gets to the cup for the lay up.
Russell finds Davis slashing to the rack and he stretches for the lay up.
Ingram pulls up from the elbow and hits the off balanced mid range jumper.
LeBron spots up from the wing and drills a three ball!
Valanciunas with the jump hook in the lane over AD.
Russell to the line after the foul on Jones and he hits both FTs.
Ingram pulls up from downtown and he strokes it. How effective will he be tonight in just his second game back from injury.
Skip pass from LeBron to Reaves on the wing and the Lakers are on the board with a three!
Zion gets his night started with a dash to the rack and Ingram slung it to him for the jam in transition!
Valanciunas to the line after the foul on Hachimura, and he hits both FTs.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM NOLA!
There is the proof of Anthony Davis presence in the starting five tonight in New Orleans. He is of course joined by LeBron James, with D'Angelo Russell running the point, Reaves and Rui Hachimura who is in to add a little size to the Lakers five.
Brandon Ingram came back from an injury in the final game of the regular season and tonight he is in the starting five for Willie Green. That means Trey Murphy will come off the bench as McCollum, Jones, Zion and Valanciunas join Ingram in the starting five.
Season series
The Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans played four times this season and LeBron and the Lakers dominated Zion and the Pelicans. The first match up came in the In Season Tournament with a spot in the final on the line. LA crushed NO by 44 points and went on to win the inaugural tournament a few days later. The Pelicans won their only game in the series to start the new year with a 129-109 win, but the Lakers have won the last two games including the final game of the regular season. LeBron dominated that game from the start in route to dishing 17 assists, in a 28 point triple double performance in which the Lakers not only won the series but dropped the Pelicans to the 7 seed and set up this match up tonight.
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AD downgraded to questionable yesterday
The big news coming out of the Lakers win in New Orleans on Sunday, other than LA locking up the eight seed, was Anthony Davis limping to the bench and having to lay flat on his back to stretch his back out. He went to the locker room late in the fourth and didn’t return. The big question was will he be ready to go tonight in the opening Play-In game.
CJ is feeling it
New Orleans is in the drivers seat of the Play-In Tournament, although it isn’t the position they were hoping to be in at the end of the season. Who knows where the Pelicans would be without CJ McCollum who has been shooting the lights out lately. He has scored 25 points or more in the last seven games and in three of those games games hit seven threes or more including going 9/12 against the Kings in Sacramento. Zion is going to be pivotal, and getting Brandon Ingram back just in time for the regular season finale was important, but if the Pelicans are going to have success moving forwards it’s going to have to be McCollum who leads the way. This season he is averaging 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 42.9% from three point range, but he knows those numbers will have to increase in the postseason.
The King of the postseason
LeBron James gave us a glimpse of what we should be expecting from him for the rest of the postseason in LA’s final game against the Pelicans. He went wild, dishing 7 assists in the first 7 FGs of the Lakers afternoon. He ended with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 17 assists to go along with his five steals. It shouldn’t surprise us that the LeBron is playing his best in the biggest moments. He has made a 21 year career of being clutch in clutch moments. At 39 years old, he is averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists and is having his best shooting season ever. The Lakers don’t just have ambitions to make the playoffs, they have ambitions of getting even further than they got last year. To do so, LeBron is going to have to be LeBron each and ever single night.
How they got here: Pelicans
The New Orleans are back in the Play-In for a second straight year after putting together a respectable season in a tough Western Conference. They have a team stacked full of scorers, and for the first time ever we have seen Zion Williamson stay healthy for pretty much the entirety of the season. Herb Jones is a defensive mastermind and should be named a member of the NBA All-Defense Team. CJ McCollum has been lighting it up, especially in the final stretch of the season, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the Play-In tournament for a second straight season. The good news for New Orleans is they will have two chances to get to the playoffs, both at home if necessary. The Pelicans want nothing to do with a second Play-In game. They want to take care of business tonight and set their sights on the Denver Nuggets.
How they got here: Lakers
After reaching the Western Conference Finals last year in a surprise run from the Play-In Tournament, the Lakers were figured to compete amongst the top teams in the league. It never really panned out like that, even though LeBron is having another fantastic season and Anthony Davis stayed healthy, playing in 76 regular season games, the most of his career. That still wasn’t enough to keep the Lakers out of Play-In position at the end of the season. Despite being one of the hottest teams going into the postseason, winning 11 of their last 14 games, here they are back in the Play-In for a second straight season. They have already shown they can get hot when the playoffs come around after last seasons run to the WCF, and they will have to do that against this season if they want a record setting 18th NBA title.
We are live from NOLA
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Smoothie King Center where it’s deja vu all over again. We saw the Lakers and the Pelicans square off here on Sunday afternoon in a game that both teams needed to win. It was the Lakers who closed the season out with a win, dropping the Pelicans to a seven seed and bumping the Suns into sixth with an automatic playoff birth. That’s exactly what’s on the line tonight as the Lakers and the Pelicans fight for the seven seed in the West, while the loser will have to take on the winner of the later game tonight between the Warriors and Kings. Meanwhile, the victors will meet the two seed Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
Lakers vs. Pelicans
The seven seed is up for grabs tonight from the Smoothie King Center and we have a rematch of game number 82 between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers. LA beat the Pelicans to drop them into the playoff and set up this win and you’re in matchup tonight from the Big Easy. The winner will move on to the first round, while the loser will have to play a do or die game on Thursday night. AS English will be with you tonight from New Orleans and for all of the postseason providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s opening Play-In Game.