After a long regular season concluded on April 14, the play-ins began on the night of Monday to Tuesday, April 17 with two matches in the Western Conference.
Traveling to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers won (110-106). They will begin their first round (best of seven matches) on Saturday against outgoing champion Denver, who swept them last year in the Western Conference final (4-0).
17th playoffs for LeBron James
The “King” LeBron James will thus play his 17th NBA playoffs for his 21st season, at 39 years old.
Before this reunion with a taste of revenge, Los Angeles and its two stars LeBron James (23 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists) and Anthony Davis (20 points, 15 rebounds) had a hard time clipping the wings of the Pelicans in Louisiana, for this dam on a dry match between the 7th and 8th of the regular season.
The Lakers had nevertheless taken control at halftime (50-40), but were unable to stem the enthusiasm of Zion Williamson (40 points, 11 rebounds).
Untenable, the No. 1 of the 2019 draft imposed his power (1.98 m, 129 kg) on both sides of the field, in defense on Davis and James and in attack, multiplying the races to the basket.
While he had barely allowed his team to come back to the level, Zion Williamson had to leave with an injury three minutes from time, throwing his towel in frustration as he returned to the locker room.
A long shot from D’Angelo Russell then the accuracy of free throws from Davis and Austin Reaves allowed the Angelenos to control the last minutes, without ever letting the Pelicans get back in front.
New Orleans still has a chance to play in the playoffs: they will face the Sacramento Kings on Friday who beat the Golden State Warriors.
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Sad season for Golden State
Indeed, the Californians of Stephen Curry (36 years old) were eliminated in the play-offs by the Kings (118-94) and will not see the NBA playoffs.
Crowned champions in 2022, the Warriors only finished tenth in the Western Conference, and played the rest of their season in a dry match, lost on the floor of their neighbor in northern California.
Without the magic of their leader Stephen Curry (22 points), four times champion with his lifelong franchise, the Warriors were largely ruled by Keegan Murray (32 points) and De’Aaron Fox (24 points).
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Golden State therefore pitifully concludes a sad season, between suspensions for violence on the court by Draymond Green, injuries, and especially the death of their assistant coach Dejan Milojevic in January during a team trip to Utah.
The Kings, 9th in the West at the end of the regular season, have won the right to play a second and final play-off match to reach the playoffs, Friday, on the home field of the New Orleans Pelicans.
