LeBron James finished his 21st NBA regular season with high energy, showing strength both offensively and defensively, indicating his readiness for the playoffs.
In Sunday’s game against New Orleans, James recorded impressive stats: 28 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds, and five steals. His stellar performance helped the Los Angeles Lakers secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference. This win also pushed the Pelicans out of the top six positions they were aiming for.
“I’m just focused on winning. So, I adapt to whatever the game demands,” James commented. He took on the role of guarding Pelicans’ star player, Zion Williamson, showing his versatility on the court. “I’m like a Swiss army knife out there. I have to contribute in various ways, but nothing is predetermined.”
Anthony Davis also played a significant role, contributing 30 points and 11 rebounds against his former team. However, he left the game in the final minutes due to a back issue. Despite walking off gingerly, Davis reassured fans that it was nothing serious, just a momentary discomfort caused by a shove during play.
“I’m going to play,” Davis assured about the upcoming play-in game on Tuesday. “I’ll get massages, treatment, just keep my body loose. I’ll see how I feel in the next 36 hours and be prepared.”
James recorded his fifth triple-double of the season, leading a strong Lakers performance in the paint, where they outscored the Pelicans 68-42. “They had their way inside,” Williamson admitted. “They dominated us there.”
James emphasized his focus on facilitating for his teammates. “I aimed to read the game and set up my teammates,” he explained. “I tried to deliver the ball accurately for open shots or inside scoring opportunities.”
He also played a role in limiting Williamson, who usually scores an average of 23 points per game, to just 12 points.
“He’s incredibly talented. It’s hard to stop him,” James acknowledged. “So, I focused on keeping him covered and making it challenging for him.” Meanwhile, Williamson criticized himself for not being assertive enough. “I think I wasn’t aggressive throughout the game,” he reflected.
Austin Reaves contributed 20 points, while D’Angelo Russell added 19 for the Lakers, who ended their regular season on a strong note, winning eight of their last 11 games.
On the Pelicans’ side, CJ McCollum scored 23 points. Despite the return of Brandon Ingram, they couldn’t secure a win at home, missing a chance to secure a No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in game.
Pelicans coach Willie Green admitted they missed a good opportunity and likened the defeat to a previous embarrassing loss against the Lakers earlier in the season.
Ingram returned after missing 12 games due to a knee injury, scoring 13 points. Herb Jones contributed 18 points for the Pelicans.
In the first quarter, Ingram’s 3-pointer narrowed the gap to 28-24, but the Lakers benefited from a referee error, earning free throws that weren’t initially given. Taurean Prince capitalized on the opportunity, scoring both shots.
The Lakers dominated the second quarter, with Prince’s layup extending their lead to 32-24. James’ layup sparked a 9-0 run, pushing the lead to 41-26.
While the Pelicans struggled with their 3-point shots, the Lakers capitalized on rebounds and fast breaks. Reaves’ 3-pointer and dunk extended their lead to 53-33, with another Reaves 3-pointer making it 70-53.
The Lakers continued their dominance in the third quarter, with Reaves and Russell scoring from deep, and Davis delivering a powerful dunk, leading to an 83-57 advantage.
Russell’s 3-pointer extended the Lakers’ lead to 91-59. “We need to come together as a team because we’re in this situation now,” Williamson commented. “The result wasn’t what we wanted, but we still have confidence.”
