In a thrilling conclusion to the NBA play-in tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers clinched the No. 7 seed with a 110-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. This win sets them up for a first-round showdown with the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers have been on a formidable streak, winning 12 of their last 15 games, a run that now pits them against the Nuggets—the team that ousted them from last year’s playoffs with a clean sweep. Denver, maintaining their dominance, has extended their winning streak to eight games against the Lakers.
Had the Lakers faltered against the Pelicans, they would have faced a critical elimination game against the Sacramento Kings. The winner of that game would have secured the No. 8 seed and a matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, while the loser would have seen their season end prematurely.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Darvin Ham, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets Updates
The stakes in New Orleans were high, and there was speculative talk in sports media about the Lakers possibly preferring to lose to avoid the formidable Nuggets. However, Lakers coach Darvin Ham was visibly frustrated with such suggestions after his team held off a late surge from the Pelicans to advance.
Lakers superstar LeBron James expressed deep respect for the Nuggets. “They’re the champions for a reason. They possess a deep understanding of victory, backed by a powerful home game performance, an MVP, a strong finisher, and a squad of high-IQ players,” said James. He stressed the need for the Lakers to play flawlessly and challenge the Nuggets intensely.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Darvin Ham, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets Updates
In the wake of the victory, Lakers’ Anthony Davis is taking the opportunity to recover from back spasms experienced during the game against the Pelicans. The four-day break before the first game in Denver will be crucial for his recovery. Davis played through pain on Tuesday, going 6 for 16 in shooting, yet his defensive presence remained impactful. “I have a couple of days now to get back to normal and prepare for Saturday,” Davis commented, hopeful of reaching full fitness.
Davis recalled a lesson from his former coach Monty Williams, emphasizing the importance of integrity in the game: “Mess with the game, and it will mess with you.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Darvin Ham, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets Updates
The Lakers are scheduled to travel to Denver on Thursday, replicating their successful pre-game routine from last postseason. Their first-round encounter with the Nuggets revisits last year’s playoff and tests their recent momentum against a seasoned opponent.
As Davis noted, the Lakers are peaking at the right moment, feeling confident and prepared for the challenges ahead in Denver.
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