Lakers 124 - 108 Pelicans summary, stats, schedule and highlights | NBA
The only bad news for the Lakers coming out of New Orleans is the injury Anthony Davis suffered late in the game when the Lakers had a big lead. He seemed to clutch his back and walk to the bench after a non contact play in which it looked like he may have tweaked something turning off a screen.
The Lakers got the win and secured the eight seed to set up a rematch against the Pelicans on Tuesday night. We will have to wait and see if Davis will be available for that game.
For the 20th season in 21 total seasons, LeBron James ended the regular season campaign averaging 25 points per game. He ended the night with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 17 assists. LeBron knows when he needs to turn it on, and it's about that time for the King. He and the Lakers are going to be a problem for teams in the Western Conference if they can get through the Play-In.
LeBron set a career for assists in the first half with 13, and kept in going in the second half ending the night with 17 set ups in a night where he had five steals to go along with his triple double.
Rui Hachimura did a great job doing all the little things and his ability to run the baseline made life easy for guys like D'Angelo Russell and LeBron. He ended the night with 11, 7 and 4 assists.
Once James decided to start attacking the rack, there was no stopping him. He kept dishing the rock, but with his teammates knocking down shots from the perimeter that opened up space inside.
The first seven Lakers buckets came off of LeBron assists as he made sure to get everyone involved before he started getting his buckets in the second quarter.
The Los Angeles Lakers needed a win in New Orleans to avoid a situation in which they needed to wins to get into the playoffs, and did so in a comfortable win over New Orleans to set up a rematch with the Pelicans on Tuesday night. LeBron James was simply incredible on the final day of his 21st regular season campaign.
It wasn't hard to tell that LeBron came out ready in a must win game from the Smoothie King Center. He did everything but score in the first quarter, first on the defensive end and then on the distribution end.
IT'S ALL OVER!
The Lakers wrap up the eight seed while sending the Pelicans sinking to the Play-In Tournament and setting up a rematch between these two teams in a couple days time.
Alvarado with the three ball in the corner!
Robinson-Earl with the put back and the foul on Castelon but he misses the FT.
Dinwiddie to the line after the foul on Murphy and he hits both FTs.
McCollum gets his own offensive rebound and he gets the put back to fall.
LeBron takes McCollum to the rack, gets the lay up and the foul! FT is good.
Nance with the slam off the feed from McCollum. Timeout Lakers with 3:17 to go.
Davis went to the locker room after limping to the bench holding his lower back. That might be the story coming out of this crucial game for postseason position.
Russell to the line after the foul on McCollum and he hits both FTs.
McCollum to the line after the foul on Reaves and he hits one of two FTs.
Nance follows the miss from Jones and tips it in off the offensive rebound.
McCollum off the dribble and the leaner goes in the lane.
LeBron drives to the cup and lays it up and in.
AD took a shot and is holding his lower back that will bring a timeout out of Darvin Ham.
Jones hits the three ball in the corner and had a little something to say to Reaves on the way back down court. Not exactly the time to do it, down 21 with five minutes to go.
McCollum dills the three ball in transition, but this is just a matter for timeout for NO.
James to the line after the foul on Zion and he hits both FTs.
James misses his three ball but get the long rebound and lays it up down the middle of the lane.
Jones to the cup and gets the lay up to fall of the glass.
Davis to the line out of the timeout and he hits both FTs.
Davis to the line after the foul on Valanciunas and he will be at the line after the timeout with 7:41 to go.
Davis from the elbow and he hits the step back jumper.
James to the line after the foul on Valanciunas and he hits both FTs.
Alvarado down the lane and he hits the floater over AD.
Davis with the put back after Prince's shot was blocked.
Davis slashes to the rim and LeBron hit him for the lay up.
Murphy steps into a three ball in transition and drills it from the wing!
Timeout Pelicans with under 10:00 to go.
Ingram drives the right side of the lane and lays it up.
Davis to the line after the foul on Valanciunas and he hits both FTs.
Valanciunas hits the hook shot in the paint over Hachimura. He's only played 3 minutes tonight.
WE ARE HEADED TO THE FOURTH QUARTER AND THE LAKERS ARE 12 MINUTES AWAY FROM WRAPPING UP THE 7 SEED AND SETTING UP A PLAY-IN MATCH UP WITH NEW ORLEANS!
Murphy answers back with a three ball from the top of the key. It's been him and McCollum but no one else for NO.
Dinwiddile drills a triple try off the kick out from Russell .
Zion puts his head down and lays it up and the cup.
Dinwiddie takes a strong dribble down low and lays it up off the glass.
McCollum off the dribble and he drills the mid range jumper.
James spots up with a foot on the line and drills it.
Jones drills a deep two from the wing off the kick out from Zion.
Reaves to the line after the foul on Nance and he hits one of two FTs.
Zion takes AD off the dribble, lays it up with the left and gets the foul. FT is good.
Jones missed the lay up on the break, but Nance was there on the follow and the tip slam.
Timeout Lakers with under 6:00 to go in the 3rd.
Zion to the line after the foul on Davis and he hits one of two FTs.
McCollum drops a three ball, and he's got 29 but it's not going to be enough unless other Pelicans get hot.
Russell pulls up and drills a three ball from the the top of the key!
Reaves was left open and he drills a three ball from the top of the key!
McCollum down the lane and he floats one up and in over Davis.
Pick and roll from Reaves to James for the one handed jam.
Touch pass from LeBron to Davis for the slam and he's got 14 assists on the day.
Reaves slashes down the lane off the dribble and gets the lay up to go.
Russell hits back to back three balls, this one from the wing!
Ingram sinks the short jumper outside the paint and he's in double digits.
Russell bangs home a three ball and the lead is up to 21, the largest of the night!
Zion gets to the cup and lays it up off the glass.
Reaves starts the third quarter with a there ball from the top of the key!
WE ARE BACK IN NEW ORLEANS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
Four of the Lakers starters have double digits points, and Prince has 9 off the bench. Reaves has 11 and so does Rui Hachimura, but it's AD running the show with 18 and 6 rebounds.
LeBron was too busy getting his teammates involved to score in the first quarter but had 13 in the second quarter to set the Lakers on fire in a quarter they won 40-29
Ingram returned from injury after being out since March 21st, and looked like he hadn't missed a beat in the first half. He came off the bench and scored 9 quick points including this buzzer beater.
CJ McCollum had been red hot lately, but tonight he's taken a little while to get going. He's got 10 off 3/8 shooting from the field.
Everything LeBron touched turned to gold in the first half. He had 7 assists in four minutes and ended the quarter with 8 as LA came out and dictated the pace early on.
It didn't take long to see LeBron was in the mood in this must win matchup today in New Orleans. He got the Lakers started on the right foot, doing it on the defensive end here but he played distributor early on.
WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME FROM NEW ORLEANS!
The Lakers are in control through two quarters, lets go to the highlights.
Reaves floats one up and in from the heart of the paint.
James drives to the bucket and again and gets an easy look around the rim to fall.
Alvarado splashes the three ball from the wing!
McCollum drllls a three ball from the top of the key and he drills it! They need to see some more of that.
Russell lobs it up and over the defenders in the pain and he smashes home the alley oop.
Lance cuts to the bucket and McCollum found him for the slam.
LeBron strolls to the bucket and hits the lay up on the drive on the left side of the lane.
Nance to the line and hits both FTs after the foul on Hachimura.
Hachimura scaling the baseline and LeBron found him for the reverse lay up.
McCollum steps into a three from the wing and this team can get hot in a hurry!
Timeout Lakers with 3:13 to go in the 1st half.
Nance drills a much needed three ball in the corner off the kickout from McCollum.
James snaps a pass down the the baseline for Hachimura who slams it gome!
McCollum to the line after the foul on Reaves and he hits both FTs.
James got early position down low and AD found him with a half court entry pass which he put up and in and got the foul! FT is good.
Jones to the line after the foul on Davis and eh hits both FTs.
Prince missed the floater on the baseline but AD was there to come crashing in with the tip slam!
Hachimura with a quick outlet up the middle to Reaves and he takes it in transition for the slam!
Timeout Pelicans with 5:38 to go in the first half.
Vincent drops a dime for Hachimura who throws it down with two hands!
Reaves drills the three ball from the top of the key and the lead is up to 16!
Zion to the line after the foul on Vincent and he hits both FTs.
James slices a double team and scoops it off the glass with the right hand.
Daniels floats it up and in down the lane over Hayes.
Russell bites back with a three ball from the top of the key!
Jones gets a three ball to fall from the wing off the kick out from Williamson.
Prince cut down the lane and LeBron hit him from the corner for the lay up.
LeBron eases down Main St. and lays it up and in out of the timeout.
Russell jacks a three ball form the top of the key and drills it!
11 point lead and the Pelicans need a timeout with 10:04 to go in the second quarter!
James is finally on the board with a runner from outside the lane after a scoreless first quarter with 8 assists.
Murphy floats one up and in over Hayes in the paint.
Prince drive to the rim and drills the lay up after the dish from Russell.
Prince to the line to start the second quarter, because there were supposed to be FTs at the end of the 1st quarter because a foul on Nance was the second with under 2:00. He makes both Fts.
Ingram drills the buzzer beater three from way downtown! He's got 9 points off the bench!
We are heading to the second quarter with the Lakers up by four!
Ingram leads the Pelicans is scoring while AD has 14 points while James dished 8 assists in the first quarter.
Davis spots up and hits the mid range J from the wing.
Ingram with the fade away jumper from the elbow and what a return he is having.
Davis follows up the miss from Russell and he tips it up and in.
Ingram with back to back buckets from the same spot, and he's looks comfortable coming off injury.
Ingram is back on the court after missing the last three weeks and he gets the pull up mid range jumper to go.
Prince drills a three ball out of the timeout after Hachimura found him on the wing.
Zion running the break and the finds Alvarado who beats the defense down court and lays it up and in.
Timeout Lakers with 3:42 to go in the 1st quarter.
Jump ball on a hail Mary pass for LeBron and he tipped it to Reaves for the lay up.
LeBron with the pick and roll with Davis and he lobs it up for the alley oop jam for Davis.
Zion driving and dishing for Murphy on the perimeter and he drills the three ball.
Zion finds Jones open on the wing and he drills the catch and shoot three ball!
Davis slides along the baseline and lays it up with a reverse off the feed from Hachimura.
James finds Russell on the slash to the cup for the lay up.
Jones drills a three ball off the feed from Zion and they have been killing teams from downtown!
James running the break and lob it up for Davis for the lay up. That's six assists already for LeBron.
Davis puts it up in the paint and guess who found him open? It was LeBron and the Pelicans are going to take an early timeout.
Hachimura from the top of the key and LeBron has 4 assists on four Lakers field goals.
Zion off the dribble and he lays it up and in at the cup.
James finds Hachimura slashing to the bucket and he slams it home! Three assists already for LeBron!
LeBron distributing again, this time he finds Reaves for the lay up.
McCollum picks up where he left off with a mid range jumper. He's been on fire lately.
AD gets this game going inside with a lay up off the feed from LeBron.
WE ARE UNDERWAY IN LA!!
West coast Standings
Taking a look at the Western Conference standings coming into the final day of the season, we see just about everything up for grabs on the final day of the season. The one seed will be decided in just a few hours, as three teams fight for home court advantage in the Western Conference. A little farther down the table, we see the Pelicans holding on to 6th place, trying to fend off the Suns on the final day of the season. If they win they are directly into the playoffs. If they lose, they have to depend on the Suns losing their game against the Timberwolves. The Lakers meanwhile, need a win to secure their place in 8th, and avoid needing to win two games to get into the playoffs.
NO’s Big Three
It’s hard to pin point who has been the best player for the Pelicans over their last few games. It really has been a case of the entire team stepping up in the most important moment of the season. Zion has stayed healthy and is the guy New Orleans goes to when they need some one to put the ball on the deck and get to the hoop for a high percentage shot. CJ McCollum is a sure fire sharp shooter that can light up the score board in a matter of seconds and Trey Murphy is a certified bucket that is liable to pull up from anywhere on the court once he crosses half court. The Pels Big Three are going to have to step up tonight for a fifth straight game if they want to wrap up their six seed and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
The King is ready
In the Lakers last game against the Grizzlies, LeBron gave us a glimpse of just how decisive he can still be even in his 21st season in the NBA. He scored 37 points and had some clutch buckets late in the game. He knows there is a big difference in getting the 8 seed versus getting the 9 or 10 seed and having to win two games instead of one. Back in LA, with the season on the line, he is going to have to be as good if not better than he was against the Grizzlies on Friday night. He is averaging 25.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists this season, and Lakers fans will be hoping that the King is saving the best for last as the regular season comes to a close.
NO’s Big Three
It’s hard to pin point who has been the best player for the Pelicans over their last few games. It really has been a case of the entire team stepping up in the most important moment of the season. Zion has stayed healthy and is the guy New Orleans goes to when they need some one to put the ball on the deck and get to the hoop for a high percentage shot. CJ McCollum is a sure fire sharp shooter that can light up the score board in a matter of seconds and Trey Murphy is a certified bucket that is liable to pull up from anywhere on the court once he crosses half court. The Pels Big Three are going to have to step up tonight for a fifth straight game if they want to wrap up their six seed and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
Pelicans last game
The Pelicans went into San Francisco and took on a desperate Warriors team needing a win to climb out of the 10th spot. Both teams were coming off the front end of a back to back series and it took a little while for the Pels to get into the game. They scored just 17 points in the first quarter, but CJ McCollum and New Orleans ignited from downtown in the second quarter. McCollum hit five of the Pelicans 10 three pointers in a quarter in which they scored 45 points and took a 14 point lead into the break. McCollum ended the night with 28, Zion had 26 and Trey Murphy III put up 24 in a night in which the Pelicans hit 20/38 threes and set up todays must win match up in LA. McCollum had eight of those triples including the game clincher late in the third quarter.
We are live from Los Angeles
Hello everyone and welcome to LA were the Lakers have jumped up the standings over the last week or so, and now have a chance to secure the eighth spot in the West which would allow the two opportunities to win a game and qualify for either the 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs. The Pelicans need a win to keep hold of their position in 6th after a four game win streak. They have been red hot from three point range over the last week, and that has put them in position to hold off the Phoenix Suns who are chasing New Orleans for the final direct playoff spot in the west.
Pelicans vs. Lakers
After 81 regular season games, there is still nothing decided in the Western Conference. From the top spot to the 10th, there is still room for teams to move up or down. By the end of the day we will know where everyone stands, what the Play-In looks like and who gets the one seed in the West. The New Orleans Pelicans are looking to keep hold of the six seed and earn the last automatic playoff spot while the Lakers have a chance to secure the 8 seed and guarantee themselves two chances to get into the first round. AS English will be with you all afternoon, providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from Crypto.com Arena.