Lakers Secure Playoff Berth, Trip to Denver With Play-In Win Over Pelicans

Lakers Secure Playoff Berth, Trip to Denver With Play-In Win Over Pelicans
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots as Zion Williamson (1) of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during the second half of a play-in tournament game in New Orleans on April 16, 2024. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
The Associated Press
4/16/2024
Updated:
4/17/2024

NEW ORLEANS—LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and their supporting cast have the Los Angeles Lakers looking like a tougher out in the playoffs than they appeared to be just a few weeks ago.

The New Orleans Pelicans, meanwhile, find themselves on the brink of elimination and wondering about the health of star power forward Zion Williamson, whose dominant NBA postseason debut was cut short by an injury in the final minutes of a tight game.

James had 23 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds, and the Lakers secured a playoff berth with a 110–106 victory over the Pelicans in the Western Conference play-in tournament on Tuesday night, April 16.

“Tonight, we showcased what we were able to do both offensively and defensively,” said James, whose team enters the NBA playoffs having won 12 of 15 games. “We’ve got a good group going right now, good rotation, good plan, and guys are coming in ready to go.”

Williamson had 40 points and 11 rebounds, but shortly after tying the game 95–95 on a driving layup with 3:19 to go, Williamson went to the locker room, throwing a towel to the floor in disgust as he walked into the tunnel with an apparent injury.

After the game, Pelicans coach Willie Green said Williamson had “left-leg soreness.

“He’s going to have some imaging on it tomorrow and we’ll figure out more,” Mr. Green said.

Soon after Williamson went out, James hit a jumper, Davis dunked Austin Reaves’ alley-oop lob, DeAngelo Russell hit a 3, and Davis grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, after which he hit two free throws to help the Lakers hold on.

The Pelicans “threw some heavy blows at us,” Lakers Coach Darvin Ham said. “They kept swinging. We kept fighting back. It revealed a lot about us and what we’re made of.”

Davis finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Russell scored 21, hitting five times from deep. James was 10 of 10 on free throws, and Davis eight of 10.

The Lakers advance to face the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the first round in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals, which the Nuggets swept. Game 1 is Saturday night.

The Pelicans will have one more chance to qualify for the playoffs, at home Friday night against the Sacramento Kings, who defeated the Golden State Warriors 118–94 in Tuesday’s other West play-in game.

“Obviously a tough loss for us,” said Mr. Green, whose team could have clinched the sixth seed in the NBA playoffs on Sunday, but lost at home to the Lakers, 124–108, setting up Tuesday night’s rematch in the play-in. “We’ve got to feel this one tonight and regroup and get ready for another one.”

Williamson, Mr. Green said, was “fantastic.

“He settled into the game. He just continued to attack. He found seams. He rebounded the ball. He played fast. [If] we have him for a few more minutes, maybe we have a chance to pull this thing out.”

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson pulls down a rebound against the Lakers during an NBA play-in game in New Orleans on April 16, 2024. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson pulls down a rebound against the Lakers during an NBA play-in game in New Orleans on April 16, 2024. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)

The Lakers went 14 of 35 from 3-point range. The Pelicans hit nine of 29 from deep, and Williamson didn’t get a lot of help from the Pelicans’ usual high scorers.

Brandon Ingram, in his second game back from a 12-game absence because of a knee injury, missed eight of 12 shots and finished with 11 points after spending the final few minutes on the bench.

“I just like the group that was on the floor at that time,” Mr. Green said. “BI is still getting back. He’s still finding his rhythm. So, I didn’t want to force the issue.”

CJ McCollum missed 11 of 15 shots and scored nine points.

Trey Murphy III scored 12, hitting two 3s from beyond 28 feet in the second half to help New Orleans come back to tie it from a second-half deficit as large as 18 points.

The Lakers led 75–57 after Rui Hachimura’s layup in the third quarter. But New Orleans got back in the game by outscoring Los Angeles 19–8 during the final 5:31 of the period.

Williamson sparked the surge with a pair of layups. Murphy pulled up for a 31-foot 3-pointer in the final minute of the quarter, and Williamson’s free throw made it 83–76 at the end of the period.

The Pelicans finally tied it when Williamson slammed down Jose Alvarado’s alley-oop lob in transition to make it 93–93 with 3:53 to go.

Looking to redeem themselves for a lackluster loss to the Lakers on Sunday, the Pelicans put together a promising opening quarter and took a 34–28 lead on Herb Jones’ 3.

Los Angeles surged into the lead by outscoring New Orleans 34–16 in the second quarter, leading by as many as 14 after James, who had 15 first-half points, hit two free throws to make it 58–44.

In the final seconds of the half, Williamson sprinted nearly the length of the court on the dribble for a floating layup at the horn that made it 60–50.

By Brett Martel