Revenge or confirmation? This was the question we asked ourselves at the start of this new confrontation between the Pelicans and the Lakers in Louisiana, two days after the Californians crushed their counterparts on the evening of the last day of the regular season.
As part of the play-in this time, it is again the players of Los Angeles who prevail at New Orleans, but it was much more complicated (110-106). I have to say that Zion Williamson (40 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) was immense in annoying LeBron James (23 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals), D'Angelo Russell (21 points, 6 assists), Anthony Davis (20 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks) and others.
Except that the exit three minutes from the end of the heroic Zion changed the course of the “money-time”, at the moment when his team had managed to completely reverse the trend in the second half…
Los Angeles in control
The game in any case got off to a flying start on each side, with baskets accumulating at a frantic pace. A timeout calms the Lakers, eaten up on the rebound, but the 3-points of D'Angelo Russell (tickled by Jose Alvarado…) give them some air, in response to the insistence inside of Zion Williamson. In the game of: “everything for attack and up-tempo”, the Pelicans are doing the best (34-26).
Thanks to his defensive activity, to force the balls, and his outside skill, with in particular Gabe Vincent or D'Angelo Russell who still excite the public, Los Angeles comes back strong and goes back in front with a 15-2. Zion Williamson continues to pound the California paint but lacks support, with New Orleans especially lacking award-winning success. The “Purple & Gold” gain confidence and take advantage, while LeBron James flexes his muscles near the circle, initiating a new 15-2. The break is made at half-time (60-50).
Zion Williamson, courageous but unhappy…
The break does not allow the Pelicans to get their thoughts back in place. Despite Zion Williamson, alone, the gap grew as the ball was lost one after the other. On the Lakers side, things are going smoothly, free throws and 3-pointers are still raining down, then LeBron James sets the example, at 39 years old, by causing forceful passes which go well. But Zion, him again, and Jose Alvarado sound the revolt in the paint, award-winning shots fall in and the public plays its role to the fullest: LA is in trouble (83-76)!
Moment chosen by Los Angeles to tighten the screws a little, under the leadership of Anthony Davis, before Zion Williamson puts the fire back in the racket to bring New Orleans back to a tie, alongside Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado at 3 -points! The room exults, the Angelenos thwart and the NOLA bench contributes enormously. Except that Zion has to return to the locker room, without us really knowing why (injury?), but we can observe all his frustration (95-95).
LeBron James then puts his nose to the window again then D'Angelo Russell plants a big shot from distance in the corner one minute from the end. CJ McCollum responds (finally) at mid-distance, but Anthony Davis grabs the offensive rebound he needs after a failure by LeBron, in order to obtain two shots, convert them and thus take the Lakers to victory, after the traditional game free throws (110-106)! Head to the playoffs against the Nuggets, while the Pelicans will play for survival against the Kings or the Warriors.
TO REMEMBER
– Los Angeles trembles but offers revenge against Denver. In control at half-time then until the middle of the third quarter, relying on a big 3-point skill and good ball management, the Lakers then collapsed before the assaults of Zion Williamson at the interior. With forceps, without panicking and “thanks” to the release of their executioner, they found the means to win by a landslide, in order to afford themselves the right to challenge the reigning champions in three days, for a remake of the last Western Conference final. That's the main thing, but some mistakes will pay off against Denver.
– Tragic end for a heroic Zion Williamson. How cruel it is for the Pelicans and Zion Williamson. For his first career high-stakes match, the interior did everything well against the Lakers, constantly attacking the Californian paint to score his points and keep his team alive, between the first and second half. Unstoppable, he ended up restarting the suspense, straddling the last two quarters, in the company of Jose Alvarado, Trey Murphy III and Larry Nance Jr. Until his knee decided to deprive him of the “money- time”, right when the momentum was in favor of New Orleans… Terrible, and one to watch.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
