Lakers Defeat Pelicans 110-106 in Play-In Tournament, Secure 7th Seed in Western Conference

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 in the NBA play-in tournament on Tuesday night, securing the 7th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds, while Anthony Davis added 20 points and 15 rebounds.

The Lakers built an 18-point lead in the third quarter, but the Pelicans fought back to tie the game at 95 in the fourth quarter. However, the Lakers were able to hold off the late rally, with D'Angelo Russell hitting a pivotal 3-pointer in the final minute to put the Lakers up by 4 points.

Pelicans star Zion Williamson had a dominant performance with 40 points and 11 rebounds, but left the game late with an apparent left leg injury. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time, and Williamson will undergo imaging on Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage.

Why this matters: The Lakers' victory sets up a highly anticipated first-round playoff matchup against the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have won eight straight games against the Lakers dating back to last season, making the Lakers heavy underdogs in the series.

The Pelicans will now host the Sacramento Kings on Friday in another play-in game to determine the 8th seed in the Western Conference. The winner of that game will face the loser of the Golden State Warriors-Los Angeles Clippers game in the first round of the playoffs.

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham praised his team's resilience in the win, saying "We've been through a lot this season, but our guys never quit. They kept fighting and believed in each other. This is a big win for us, but we know the job's not done yet."

Key Takeaways

• Lakers defeat Pelicans 110-106 in NBA play-in, secure 7th seed in West playoffs.
• LeBron James leads Lakers with 23 pts, 9 ast, 9 reb; Davis adds 20 pts, 15 reb.
• Pelicans' Zion Williamson scores 40 pts, 11 reb but leaves with left leg injury.
• Lakers to face defending champion Nuggets in highly anticipated first-round playoff matchup.
• Pelicans to host Kings in another play-in game to determine 8th seed in West.