Pelicans Host Lakers In NBA Play-In Tournament With Playoff Spot On The Line

New Orleans hopes not to repeat the same mistakes versus the Lakers like they did on Sunday.

New Orleans, LA - After a disappointing loss to the Lakers on Sunday, the New Orleans Pelicans get a mulligan against Los Angeles on Tuesday night. The Pelicans and Lakers square off again for the right to lock in the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The prize for the winner? A first-round matchup with the defending champion Denver Nuggets. History is on New Orleans' side for the NBA Play-In Tournament. Seventh seeds in the Play-In Tournament are 5-1 in matchups versus the No. 8 seed.

Los Angeles has beaten the Pelicans in six of the last eight meetings between these teams. The common theme in this year's losses to the Lakers is the points in the paint disparity. L.A. scored 68 points in the paint in each of the last two blowout wins against the Pelicans. On Sunday, the Lakers were outscoring New Orleans 50-12 in the paint by halftime. Pelicans Coach Willie Green told reporters that a quicker start to the game "with force" is necessary for the Pelicans to have success against the Lakers.

New Orleans must find a way to slow down Anthony Davis, who has given the Pelicans issues this season. Davis is averaging 21.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and two blocks on 60% shooting from the field in the four games versus New Orleans this season. The Pelicans have mixed coverages and players, but have not found the right solution in guarding him. Davis left the game on Sunday after tweaking his back in the fourth quarter. He is listed on the injury report as questionable but told reporters he's definitely playing on Tuesday.

Apr 14, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) steals the

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Brandon Ingram returned to action on Sunday after missing 12 straight games with a hyperextended knee. Ingram started strong, scoring nine points on 4/5 shooting, but scored just four points over the last three-quarters of play. He played 23 minutes in his return, but the expectation is he will not be restricted on Tuesday night. The Pelicans 1-2 punch of him and Zion Williamson needs to produce for New Orleans to advance.

Williamson attempted just 13 shots on Sunday, the fewest shots he's attempted in nearly a month. Zion needs to assert himself more in the post to combat the lack of inside scoring the Pelicans have outside of him. Williamson is second in the league in paint points, but the Pels' weird rotations with Jonas Valanciunas leave no other viable inside-scoring threat besides him. Jonas played only three minutes in the first three quarters before Coach Green inserted him to start the fourth quarter.

A reliable inside scoring threat should loosen the Lakers' defense to allow better outside shooting for New Orleans. Los Angeles is one of the worst defensive three-point shooting teams in the league, near the bottom in opponent three-pointers made and opponent three-point shooting percentage. The Pelicans made 15 three-pointers on Sunday on 40% shooting, but most came with the game out of reach. New Orleans needs a better flow from the offense, and creating long-distance opportunities early in the game can create that flow.

LeBron James has proven over his illustrious career the ability to control a game like he did on Sunday. James finished with 17 assists, two shy of his career-high, and had as many assists in the first half (13) as the entire Pelicans team. James finished with a triple-double, totaling 28 points, 17 assists, and 11 rebounds. New Orleans will have to concede something to him, but allowing over his scoring average and 17 assists is a recipe for disaster. The Pelicans may have to pick their poison in letting either LeBron beat them or someone else. It can't be both.

New Orleans has two chances to secure a playoff spot. A win on Tuesday secures the No. 7 seed, but a loss does not knock New Orleans out. They would then host the winner of the Golden State Warriors/Sacramento Kings winner on Friday at the Smoothie King Center. The winner of that game would be the No. 8 seed and face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.