The Los Angeles Lakers understood that clinching a victory in their final regular-season game was crucial for their advancement to the first round of the NBA playoffs. LeBron James ensured their success as the No. 8 seed by achieving a triple-double, tallying 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 17 assists, while Anthony Davis contributed 30 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Lakers to a 124-108 victory on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans.

This win solidified the Lakers’ position as the No. 8 seed in the NBA’s Western Conference, setting the stage for a rematch against the Pelicans in New Orleans for the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday. The victor of this showdown will face the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, in the first round of the playoffs.

From the onset, the Lakers dominated, establishing a commanding 70-53 lead by halftime. While James and Davis were pivotal, the team received essential support from Austin Reaves, who notched 20 points, and D’Angelo Russell, who contributed 19.

The Lakers showcased their superiority in the paint, outscoring the Pelicans 68-42. However, there was concern when Davis appeared to injure his back in the fourth quarter. Despite walking off the court gingerly and heading to the locker room early, the Lakers anticipate his return for Tuesday’s game.

In the Western Conference, the playoff matchups are now confirmed. The Sacramento Kings will host the Golden State Warriors in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 showdown of the Play-In Tournament. The victor will then face the loser of the L.A. vs. New Orleans matchup for a chance to secure the No. 8 seed and face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the L.A. Clippers, securing fourth place, are set to square off against Luka Doncic and the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round. On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns are slated to compete against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their series. The NBA Play-In Tournament wraps up on Friday, paving the way for the playoffs to commence on Saturday.

LeBron James shared his thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Pelicans and his remarkable 17 assists to close out the regular season. In an unusual turn of events, the Lakers are set to meet the Pelicans again in the Play-In Tournament following their 124-108 triumph on New Orleans’ home court on Sunday.

James addressed reporters, emphasizing the need to maintain composure despite the win. “You can’t dwell too much on a single victory because there’s another game right around the corner,” he remarked. “While we played well tonight, there are areas where we can improve and lessons to be learned. However, Tuesday’s game presents a fresh challenge and a great opportunity for us.”

Reflecting on the back-to-back games in New Orleans, James likened it to a playoff series with distinct Game 1 and Game 2 dynamics. “Winning the first game puts pressure on the other team, as they have more time to stew over the defeat,” he explained. “They’ll be highly motivated, fueled by the taste of defeat. Thus, we must approach the next game with the same level of intensity and urgency we displayed previously.”

LeBron finished his 21st regular season on a high by totalling 28 points, 11 rebounds and 17 assists and explained how he has to be ready to take on whatever role presents itself on the floor on any given night.

“I just want to win, so whatever the game presents itself for me to be, for me to be ore attacking, long range or for me to be more set up guy, be more of a defender – gotta do it all. I am swiss army knife, so I gotta do it all the floor, but none of it is pre-determined,” LeBron explained.