LA LAKERS @ NEW ORLEANS (NOP -3, 231)
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LAKERS VS. PELICANS 4/14/24
By defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, the New Orleans Pelicans can guarantee themselves the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. With a victory, the Lakers can secure the eighth spot and solidify their place in the play-in tournament. When the two teams play in the regular-season finale today in New Orleans, there is a lot on the line for both.
After dropping its last four games on its most recent homestand, New Orleans (49-32) defeated Golden State (114-109) on Friday to finish a four-game road trip. The Pelicans won all four on that trip. Pelicans guard CJ McCollum led New Orleans with 28 points against the Warriors.
Against the Warriors, McCollum made 8-of-13 three-pointers, including five in a pivotal second quarter that saw New Orleans outscore Golden State 45–22 to go from behind by nine points to a lead of 14 at the half. Golden State made several attempts to get past the Pelicans in the second half. With the win, New Orleans now has a 28-14 road record, which is a franchise best and the best in the NBA this season.
To ensure they can avoid the play-in tournament, in which they took part the previous two seasons, the Pelicans now need to win at home, where they have dropped five of their last six games. If Phoenix, who is currently in seventh place at 48-33, loses at Minnesota on Sunday, the Pelicans will still be able to secure the final playoff spot even if they lose today’s game.
After missing action since March 21 due to a hyperextended knee, forward Brandon Ingram, who is second on the team in scoring with 20.9 points per game, is a player that New Orleans is hoping to see back on Sunday. In his absence, the Pelicans have a 7-5 record. Ingram is listed as questionable for today.
The Lakers (46-35) defeated Memphis 123-120 on Friday night, welcoming back forward Anthony Davis, their second-leading scorer. Davis scored 36 points and pulled down 14 rebounds on Tuesday, the day after he was forced to miss a game against the Golden State Warriors due to an eye injury.
LeBron James led Los Angeles to victory with 37 points, including six in the last minute, and he added nine rebounds. The team overcame the Warriors and Sacramento Kings to claim the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Instead of playing a single-elimination game in the 9–10 matchup, Los Angeles would have to win one of two games to go to the postseason from the No. 8 spot.
Against Memphis, James and Davis each played over 40 minutes. They are likely to again if the game is a tight one. In three lopsided games this season, Los Angeles is 2-1 against New Orleans. The Lakers defeated the Pelicans 139-122 in Los Angeles on February 9 and 133-89 in Las Vegas on December 7 in the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals. In New Orleans on New Year's Eve, the Pelicans prevailed 129-109.
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