NEW ORLEANS — There was a feeling of déjà vu in the Lakers’ 124-108 regular-season finale victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at Smoothie King Center – in which the Lakers clinched eighth place in the Western Conference standings.
Similar to their on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas, the Lakers (47-35) played with a business-like approach against New Orleans with LeBron James (28 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds, five steals) and Anthony Davis (30 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals) leading the way.
“You could just feel the vibe when we did our walkthrough [Saturday] at the hotel,” coach Darvin Ham said. “We watched film. A lot of guys were disappointed in the way we kind of didn’t completely drop the rope but some mistakes we made in [Friday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies]. Just trying to make sure we’re as tight as possible on both sides of the ball in terms of our execution.”
James set the tone early, recording assists on the Lakers’ first seven baskets and taking on the Zion Williamson assignment defensively, with the Lakers showing bodies behind James to disrupt Williamson’s drives to the basket.
“It just sets a tone,” James said. “Usually it’s AD setting that tone. A couple of other guys. But with Bron, just him setting that ton, that’s a huge challenge.
“That kid is a hell of a basketball player. It’s a huge challenge that he took on. And again, it sends a message to the rest of our team that a guy of Bron’s stature and his tenure steps up to the plate to defend a young superstar like that. And guys responded. Our activity was at a high, high level.”
James’ triple-double was his fifth of the season.
Before leaving the game late because of an unknown injury, Davis controlled the paint on both ends and was a significant reason why the Pelicans finished with just 42 points in the paint and Williamson (12 points on 4-for-13 shooting) struggled to finish even when he got to his spots.
The Pelicans turned the ball over 19 times, including four from Williamson, for 27 Lakers’ points.
The Lakers’ victory, along with the Phoenix Suns picking up a road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to close out the season, means the Lakers will stay in New Orleans for a rematch with the Pelicans (49-33) on Tuesday in the 7-8 play-in tournament game to determine the West’s seventh seed for the playoffs.
The winner of Tuesday’s game will play the two-seed Denver Nuggets in the playoffs’ first round while the loser will on Friday host the winner of Tuesday’s 9-10 play-in game between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.
The first 42 minutes couldn’t have gone better for the Lakers.
James dished 13 assists in the first half, which marked a new career high in a half for the 21-year NBA veteran, leading the Lakers to a 70-53 lead at halftime.
“I just read the game and I was just finding my teammates and I just tried to put the ball on time and on target for either jump shots or guys at the rim,” James said. “I just tried to be very efficient with my play.”
The Lakers opened the second half with a 13-4 run and took a game-best 32-point lead (91-59) over the Pelicans midway through the third.
But Davis walked off the court gingerly and asked for Jaxson Hayes to sub in for him after appearing to hurt himself on a putback attempt midway through the fourth with the Lakers leading 115-91.
He was stretched out by a trainer in front of the scorer’s table before going to the locker room. Davis said his back locked up on him after Larry Nance Jr. putback him in the back on a putback attempt after Gabe Vincent’s missed layup midway through the fourth.
“I’m feeling good,” Davis said. “Larry gave me a little shove in the back. Back just locked up. Nothing concerning. I was in the air. Obviously it’s a dangerous play. I know he’s not a dirty player. But when I’m in the air and then getting shoved in the back…just locked up. So nothing concerning.”
Davis added that there’s “no doubt” that he’ll be available Tuesday.
Austin Reaves added 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting (3 for 7 on 3s), while D’Angelo Russell broke out of his brief shooting slump with 19 points on 6-for-13 shooting (5-for-10 on 3s).
CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 25 points and seven assists. Brandon Ingram, who missed the previous 12 games because of a left knee bone contusion, finished with 13 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes.
