Los Angeles Lakers Clinch Eighth Seed with Victory Over Pelicans
Team Stats and Game Leaders
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers put together a dominant performance on Friday night, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 123-104 to clinch the eighth seed in the Western Conference. LeBron James led the charge for the Lakers, recording a triple-double with 28 points, 17 assists, and 11 rebounds. James also added five steals to his impressive stat line. Anthony Davis also had a strong game for the Lakers, scoring 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans were led by Brandon Ingram, who scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Zion Williamson was also a bright spot for the Pelicans, scoring 26 points and grabbing nine rebounds. However, the Pelicans were unable to keep up with the Lakers' hot shooting, as the Lakers shot 50.6% from the field compared to the Pelicans' 43%.
Game Highlights
The Lakers started the game strong, jumping out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter. The Pelicans closed the gap in the second quarter, but the Lakers were able to regain their double-digit lead in the third quarter. The Lakers then held on to their lead in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
LeBron James was the star of the game for the Lakers, but he received plenty of help from his teammates. Anthony Davis had a strong game, and Russell Westbrook added 19 points and nine assists. The Lakers' bench also contributed, with Thomas Bryant scoring 14 points and De'Angelo Russell adding 12 points.
The Pelicans were led by Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, but they were unable to get enough help from their teammates. CJ McCollum struggled, shooting just 3-of-14 from the field. Willy Hernangomez also had a disappointing game, scoring just four points on 2-of-8 shooting.
The Lakers' victory was a big one for their playoff hopes. The Lakers are now 23-24 on the season, and they are just one game behind the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors. The Lakers will look to continue their winning ways on Sunday when they host the Denver Nuggets.
Comments