Lakers Top Pelicans in Play-In game, 110-106
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 110-106, at Smoothie King Center on Tuesday night in a SoFi Play-In Tournament game.
The Pelicans (49-33 reg. season, 0-1 postseason) opened the contest seemingly intent on atoning for their Sunday afternoon defeat that had placed them in the Play-In level to begin with, as they owned a 34-26 lead after one. However, the Lakers (47-35 reg. season, 1-0 postseason) stormed back in the second, eliminating their deficit altogether and building a 10-point advantage going into halftime. New Orleans did chip three points from its deficit in the third, and the hosts clawed back to get as close as within two with 38.1 seconds remaining before Los Angeles was able to seal the victory with a pair of free throws apiece from Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points, adding nine rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks. D'Angelo Russell furnished 21 points, six assists, one steal and one block. Davis generated a 20-point, 15-rebound double-double that included three blocks and one steal. Austin Reaves supplied 16 points, six assists and five rebounds. Rui Hachimura netted 13 points.
Zion Williamson paced the Pelicans with 40 points, complementing them with 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. Trey Murphy totaled 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Brandon Ingram recorded 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. Larry Nance Jr. and Jose Alvarado generated matching 10-point efforts while tallying 12 rebounds and seven assists, respectively. Herbert Jones matched his teammates' scoring and added two steals.
The Lakers have clinched the No. 7 seed and will face off in a quarterfinal-round series against the Nuggets beginning Saturday at Ball Arena, while the Pelicans now await the winner of Tuesday night's Warriors-Kings battle and will play them for the No. 8 seed on Friday night.
The Pelicans (49-33 reg. season, 0-1 postseason) opened the contest seemingly intent on atoning for their Sunday afternoon defeat that had placed them in the Play-In level to begin with, as they owned a 34-26 lead after one. However, the Lakers (47-35 reg. season, 1-0 postseason) stormed back in the second, eliminating their deficit altogether and building a 10-point advantage going into halftime. New Orleans did chip three points from its deficit in the third, and the hosts clawed back to get as close as within two with 38.1 seconds remaining before Los Angeles was able to seal the victory with a pair of free throws apiece from Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points, adding nine rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks. D'Angelo Russell furnished 21 points, six assists, one steal and one block. Davis generated a 20-point, 15-rebound double-double that included three blocks and one steal. Austin Reaves supplied 16 points, six assists and five rebounds. Rui Hachimura netted 13 points.
Zion Williamson paced the Pelicans with 40 points, complementing them with 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. Trey Murphy totaled 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Brandon Ingram recorded 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. Larry Nance Jr. and Jose Alvarado generated matching 10-point efforts while tallying 12 rebounds and seven assists, respectively. Herbert Jones matched his teammates' scoring and added two steals.
The Lakers have clinched the No. 7 seed and will face off in a quarterfinal-round series against the Nuggets beginning Saturday at Ball Arena, while the Pelicans now await the winner of Tuesday night's Warriors-Kings battle and will play them for the No. 8 seed on Friday night.
Kings Defeat Warriors, 118-94
The Sacramento Kings defeated the visiting Golden State Warriors, 118-94, in the NBA Play-In Tournament at Golden One Center on Tuesday.
Sacramento never gave up the lead after the opening five minutes, riding a 31-22 first quarter to their win. A 37-26 third quarter allowed the Kings to maintain a double-digit lead for the final 19 minutes, getting their lead up to 26 points at times. They outscored the Warriors in the second half, 64-44. The Kings shot 44 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 93 percent from the free-throw line while holding the Warriors to 41 percent from the field, 31 percent from long range and 78 percent from the charity stripe. Sacramento recorded 28 assists to eight turnovers, while Golden State had 19 assists to 16 turnovers.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Draymond Green accrued 12 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Andrew Wiggins accrued 12 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody led the bench with 16 points apiece. Klay Thompson went scoreless on 0-of-10 shooting.
Keegan Murray led the Kings with 32 points, nine rebounds and two steals. De'Aaron Fox finished with 24 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals. Harrison Barnes had 17 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Domantas Sabonis tallied 16 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Keon Ellis rounded out the starting lineup with 15 points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks.
That marks the end for Golden State. Sacramento will travel to The Big Easy to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday to determine the eight-seed in the West. The winner of that game will face the Oklahoma City Thunder. New Orleans has won all five of their games over Sacramento this season by nearly 20 points per game.
Sacramento never gave up the lead after the opening five minutes, riding a 31-22 first quarter to their win. A 37-26 third quarter allowed the Kings to maintain a double-digit lead for the final 19 minutes, getting their lead up to 26 points at times. They outscored the Warriors in the second half, 64-44. The Kings shot 44 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 93 percent from the free-throw line while holding the Warriors to 41 percent from the field, 31 percent from long range and 78 percent from the charity stripe. Sacramento recorded 28 assists to eight turnovers, while Golden State had 19 assists to 16 turnovers.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Draymond Green accrued 12 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Andrew Wiggins accrued 12 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody led the bench with 16 points apiece. Klay Thompson went scoreless on 0-of-10 shooting.
Keegan Murray led the Kings with 32 points, nine rebounds and two steals. De'Aaron Fox finished with 24 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals. Harrison Barnes had 17 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Domantas Sabonis tallied 16 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Keon Ellis rounded out the starting lineup with 15 points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks.
That marks the end for Golden State. Sacramento will travel to The Big Easy to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday to determine the eight-seed in the West. The winner of that game will face the Oklahoma City Thunder. New Orleans has won all five of their games over Sacramento this season by nearly 20 points per game.