Lakers pull away late, earn date with Nuggets
NEW ORLEANS — Lebron James had 23 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers secured a playoff berth with a 110-106 victory over the
New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference play-in tournament on Tuesday night.
Zion Williamson had 40 points and 11 rebounds in his NBA postseason debut. But shortly after tying the game at 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.”
Soon after, James hit a jumper, Anthony 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 off New Orleans.
Davis had 20 points and 15 rebounds. Russell scored 21, hitting five times from deep.
The Lakers advance to face defending NBA champion Denver in the first round in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals, which was swept by the Nuggets. Game 1 is Saturday night in Denver.
The Pelicans will host Sacramento on Friday for the eighth and final spot in the West.
■ Kings 118, Warriors 94: At Sacramento, Calif., Keegan Murray scored 32 points, De’aaron Fox added 24 and Sacramento stayed alive in the play-in tournament. The loss kept Golden State out of the playoffs for the third time in the past five seasons, including two eliminations in the play-in tournament.
Klay Thompson missed all 10 shots from the field, and Stephen Curry didn’t get nearly enough help. Curry finished with 22 points
Sacramento went 0-5 in the regular season against
New Orleans and hasn’t gone winless in six or more games against the same opponent in a season since going 0-8 against the Lakers in the 198384 regular season and playoffs.