New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson gave the Los Angeles Lakers his finest shot Tuesday.
It wasn’t sufficient. The Lakers overcame a late Pelicans rally and an enormous recreation from Williamson for a 110-106 win in New Orleans within the the NBA play-in match. With the win, the Lakers secured the No. 7 seed within the Western Convention playoffs and a first-round matchup with the reigning champion Denver Nuggets.
Zion scores 40, leaves recreation with damage
The Lakers constructed and blew an 18-point lead solely to carry off a late rally by the Pelicans for the win. Williamson scored a season-high 40 factors, however completed the sport’s closing moments within the locker room after struggling what gave the impression to be a non-contact damage. The extent of his damage wasn’t instantly clear postgame.
Head coach Willie Inexperienced informed reporters that Williamson was coping with left-leg soreness and that he was scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday.
The Pelicans transfer on to Friday’s elimination recreation towards both the Sacramento Kings or Golden State Warriors. Their quick concern, nevertheless, is Williamson’s well being. The winner of Friday’s recreation will safe the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The loser’s season is over.
Lakers construct large lead, maintain off Pelicans rally
The Pelicans took the early benefit in a fiery first quarter that noticed runs by each groups and double technical fouls on Jose Alvarado and D’Angelo Russell. New Orleans took a 34-26 lead into the second quarter. There, the Lakers took management.
The Pelicans scored first within the quarter earlier than the Lakers seized a 38-36 lead with a 12-0 run. By halftime, the Lakers led, 60-50 and appeared on their method to coasting to victory. They led by as a lot as 73-55 halfway via the third quarter.
However New Orleans punched again within the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to chop the Lakers result in 91-89. A Williamson dunk then tied the sport at 93-93 with 3:53 remaining. However he left the sport after a layup with 3:19 remaining and the sport tied at 95-95 and did not return.
With Williamson sidelined, the Pelicans battled till the sport’s closing moments. Russell hit a 3-pointer with 51.1 seconds left to increase a Lakers result in 104-100. C.J. McCollum responded with a floater with 38.2 seconds remaining to chop the Los Angeles result in two.
The Pelicans then pressured LeBron James into fadeaway shot from the baseline that did not hit the rim. However Anthony Davis secured the offensive rebound and was fouled. He hit each of his free throws with 14.8 seconds remaining to increase the Lakers result in 106-102. Los Angeles hit the remainder of its free throws down the stretch to safe the win.
Williamson’s large recreation spoiled
Williamson was within the midst of a probably career-altering recreation as he sought to advance to his first playoff recreation 5 seasons after being chosen first total within the 2019 NBA Draft. He scored 10 factors in every quarter together with the pair of game-tying buckets within the fourth quarter that helped gasoline the Pelicans rally.
He got here up with a number of stops of James and completed the sport with 40 factors, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, one steal and one block whereas capturing 17 of 27 from the sector. The Pelicans can nonetheless advance to the playoffs with a win Friday. However for now, it is not clear if Williamson — whose profession has repeatedly been stunted by damage — can be out there within the occasion that they do.
Lakers trip FT line, 3-point capturing into playoffs
The Lakers gained Tuesday’s recreation from past the arc and on the free throw line. They shot 14 of 35 (40%) from 3-point distance whereas limiting the Pelicans to a 9-of-30 (30%) effort.
They made it to the free throw line 29 occasions and transformed 26 occasions (89.7%) after they received there. Davis and Austin Reaves mixed to hit 6 of 6 free throws within the recreation’s closing minute because the Pelicans tried to increase the sport. The Pelicans shot 11 of 15 on the line for the sport.
James overcame a poor capturing evening (6 of 20) to steer the Lakers with 23 factors, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. He shot 10 of 10 on the line. Davis added 20 factors and 15 rebounds whereas hitting 8 of 10 free throws. Russell tallied 21 factors and 6 assists and led the hassle from lengthy distance with a 5-of-11 effort. He was certainly one of 4 Lakers to hit two extra extra 3-pointers.
The win units up a frightening matchup for Los Angeles. The Lakers had been swept by the Nuggets in final yr’s Western Convention finals and misplaced all three regular-season matchups this season. The Lakers final beat the Nuggets on Dec. 16, 2022.