Side Pelicans, a victory ensures them 6th place in the West and therefore direct qualification for the playoffs. Side Lakersa victory ensures them 8th place in the West and therefore the possibility of only playing one play-in match (against the 7th) instead of two to qualify for the playoffs.
On arrival, this meeting full of challenges leans largely in favor of Los Angeles (124-108), in a scenario which is reminiscent of that of last December, in Las Vegas, when New Orleans had already received a correction against this same opponent.
As bosses, Anthony Davis (30 points, 11 rebounds) and LeBron James (28 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds, 5 steals!) guided theirs towards this important success, receiving the support of Austin Reaves (20 points) and D'Angelo Russell (19 points) against teammates of CJ McCollum (25 points, 7 assists).
A one-sided match
Fully motivated, the Lakers started strong and quickly took a ten point lead. The address is there, LeBron James distributes the caviar (8 assists!) and Anthony Davis is doing some work in his former team's racket. But the Pelicans hang on, notably with the returning Brandon Ingram, and a buzzer from the winger brings them back (28-24).
The domination of Los Angeles does not stop there, because the gap quickly climbs to +20, as the Californians recite their scales. From far and up close, New Orleans takes on water in defense and danger comes from everywhere with D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Taurean Prince joining the party, behind the LeBron/Davis duo. A LeBron James already in a double-double (13 points, 13 assists) and opponents who can do nothing against LA, because of a thorough hammering in the paint, despite a few 3-pointers or free throws for continue breathing (70-53).
The break does not help the Pelicans get back on track. Worse still: it reinforces the feeling of superiority of the Lakers, who rely on D'Angelo Russell and especially Austin Reaves at 3-points, without forgetting LeBron James and Anthony Davis at the dunk, to widen the gap. A gap that the “Purple & Gold” will be content to manage until the end of this third quarter, pressing again in the paint when Zion Williamson tries to sound the revolt. In vain (99-77).
The last act will not allow New Orleans to overthrow Los Angeles, much too serene, in place and serious to be surprised. Anthony Davis takes care of giving a fatal boost to NOLA (before leaving with an injury…), in the company of LeBron James who validates his 112th career triple-double. Despite CJ McCollum, LA is quietly heading towards this authoritarian and deserved success (124-108)!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Los Angeles and New Orleans will meet at the play-in ! Taking into account Phoenix's victory in Minneapolis, the Pelicans fall one place, to find themselves in 7th place, while the Lakers did the job to maintain their 8th place. As a result, the two teams will challenge each other again in a few days, during the play-in, and still in New Orleans. In the regular season, Los Angeles and New Orleans are 2-2 in their “series” but the fifth round on Tuesday evening will be the most important of all…
– LeBron James activates passer mode. With 13 assists at halftime (new career record) and 17 over the entire game (two units from his “career high”), LeBron James above all decided to make his teammates play and therefore to put them confident for this momentous meeting. A true demonstration of the “King” in creation, in triple-double, while he also took the opportunity to pass the mark of 11,000 career assists. Like John Stockton, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul before him.
– Anthony Davis hit in the back. This is the only downside on the Lakers side: the injury exit of Anthony Davis in the fourth quarter, when the match was already over and he continued to torment the Pelicans defense. It's hard to know much at this stage, but ESPN Anyway, talking about hip and back spasms after a Larry Nance Jr. stroller through the air. To be continued…
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
