In the final game of the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers dominated the New Orleans Pelicans with a 124-108 victory. LeBron James spearheaded the effort, recording 28 points, 17 assists, and 11 rebounds, while Anthony Davis added 30 points and 11 rebounds. By securing this win, the Lakers claimed the Western Conference's eighth seed, setting the stage for a play-in rematch against the seventh-seeded Pelicans this Tuesday in New Orleans.
Austin Reaves had a standout game, contributing 20 points to the Lakers' cause, while D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura chipped in 19 and 11 points, respectively. For the Pelicans, CJ McCollum was the top scorer with 25 points, followed by Herbert Jones with 18. Brandon Ingram, returning from a 12-game hiatus due to a hyperextended knee, managed 13 points, a total matched by Larry Nance Jr.
The Lakers established dominance early and never looked back, maintaining the lead throughout the entire game despite New Orleans' efforts. At one point in the first half, they held a commanding 23-point lead, largely due to their superiority near the basket, where they outscored the Pelicans 68-42. With this result, the Lakers now lead the season series 3-1, achieving their first road victory against New Orleans this year.
During the third quarter, a flurry of timely three-pointers from Reaves and Russell pushed the Lakers' lead to 85-57. Although the Pelicans tried to mount a comeback, Los Angeles stayed in control, ultimately securing the win and the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Anthony Davis set the tone early, scoring eight of his 14 first-quarter points to give the Lakers a 17-7 cushion. Even with a late push from Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans ended the first quarter trailing 30-24.
The lead grew in the second quarter as Taurean Prince and LeBron James stepped up, extending the gap to 15 points. New Orleans managed to claw back slightly, but the Lakers' balanced attack and tight defense ensured they went into halftime with a comfortable 70-53 lead. While the Pelicans fought hard toward the end, the Lakers' early surge was the deciding factor, locking in the No. 8 seed and creating an exciting play-in rematch scenario.
The season finale ended on a concerning note for the Lakers as Anthony Davis had to leave the game due to a sudden back injury. The injury occurred while Davis was setting a screen; he felt a sharp pain in his lower back and went immediately to the locker room. This concludes a remarkably durable season for Davis, who played a career-high 76 games. His availability for the upcoming play-in game now remains uncertain.