The New Orleans Pelicans were up against the Los Angeles Lakers in a high-stakes play-in tournament game, and boy, did they need to bounce back! Their last game was a real stinker, getting trounced 124-108 by the Lakers. This set up a do-or-die rematch for the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Despite a much-improved effort, the Pelicans fell short once again, losing 110-106. This means the Lakers advance to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round, a team they've struggled against lately. On the other hand, the Pelicans now have to win against the Golden State-Sacramento winner to secure the No. 8 seed and a tough matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Zion Williamson was a beast, putting up 40 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block. But even his heroics weren't enough against the playoff experience of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who led the Lakers with 23 and 20 points respectively.
The Pelicans clawed their way back from a 18-point deficit to tie the game at 93-93 in the fourth quarter, only to see the lead slip away. The Lakers' sharpshooting from beyond the arc, hitting 14 threes at a 40% clip, proved decisive. Meanwhile, the Pelicans struggled from deep, making just 9 of their 30 attempts.
The Lakers also dominated from the free-throw line, outscoring the Pelicans 26-11. They sealed the deal by sinking eight consecutive free throws in the final minutes. It was a tough loss for the Pelicans, but they'll have another shot to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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