The Los Angeles (LA) Lakers overcame a challenging game against the New Orleans Pelicans to secure the 7th seed in the Western Conference, booking a postseason date with the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
LA Lakers vs Pelicans match highlights
The game against the Pelicans was a true test of resilience for the Lakers.
Although they were outrebounded and outscored in the paint, the Lakers excelled in ball security and timely defence, which proved crucial down the stretch.
D’Angelo Russell shined with 21 points, including three key three-pointers in the first quarter, setting the pace for the Lakers.
LeBron James, despite shooting challenges, made significant contributions, especially from the free-throw line where he was perfect in 10 attempts.
The Lakers showed their depth and clutch performance in the closing stages, with Anthony Davis securing critical rebounds and points to ensure the win.
LA Lakers secure 7th seed: Here’s what this means
Securing the 7th seed means the Lakers have officially made it to the NBA Playoffs without having to play additional games that could risk their chances.
In the NBA, teams are ranked from one to eight in each conference based on their regular season performance, and the top eight get to compete in the playoffs.
However, the teams ranked 7th to 10th at the end of the regular season enter a mini-tournament called the Play-In Tournament.
The Lakers, by winning their recent game, avoided the uncertainty of this mini-tournament and claimed their spot directly in the playoffs.
This victory not only saves the Lakers from potentially tiring additional games but also gives them time to rest and strategize for their upcoming playoff games.
The first of these games is against the Denver Nuggets, a team that has been tough for them to beat in recent encounters.
LA Lakers vs Denver Nuggets match odds, head-to-head
Looking ahead to the playoffs, the Lakers face a daunting challenge against the Denver Nuggets, who have dominated recent encounters, including a 3-0 regular season sweep.
The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, appear formidable, having ended the regular season strong with six wins in their last eight games.
The Lakers will need to leverage their postseason experience and hope for standout performances from their key players like James and Davis to counter the Nuggets’ depth and tactical play.
The odds and recent history favour the Nuggets, but the playoffs are a new chapter where anything can happen.
In this highly anticipated matchup, the Lakers will need to address their recent struggles against the Nuggets and find a way to disrupt Denver’s rhythm.
The focus will also be on players like Jamal Murray, who had a remarkable performance in last year’s playoffs, and the Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell, who will be crucial in shifting the momentum in their favour.
This series promises to be a compelling clash of basketball titans, with each team looking to advance to the next round of the chase for the NBA championship.
Here’s the Lakers vs Nuggets series schedule:
| Game | Teams | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Lakers vs. Nuggets | Saturday, 20 April | 20:30 |
| Game 2 | Lakers vs. Nuggets | Monday, 22 April | 22:00 |
| Game 3 | Nuggets vs. Lakers | Thursday, 25 April | 22:00 |
| Game 4 | Nuggets vs. Lakers | Saturday, 27 April | 20:30 |
| Game 5 | Lakers vs. Nuggets | Monday, 29 April | TBD |
| Game 6 | Nuggets vs. Lakers | Thursday, 2 May | TBD |
| Game 7 | Lakers vs. Nuggets | Saturday, 4 May | TBD |
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