LeBron James and Lakers survive Pelicans rally, will face Nuggets
Source: Twitter @jovanbuha
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
MIA-PHI feels similar to NOLA-LAL today. Zion, like Embiid v. MIA, could’ve closed out the Lakers at home if not for injury. Like LeBron & AD, Butler/Bam CAN keep it close on the road. Not sure they’ll overcome a full Embiid appearance. All eyes on the big man’s health though. – 1:21 AM
Zion Williamson’s injury cost New Orleans Pelicans a Play-In win over LeBron James and Lakers
youtube.com/watch?v=VT4zjF… pic.twitter.com/bwPxzSNh8a – 12:01 AM
Anthony Davis: “I mean, me and Bron were 12-for-36 or something like that. D-Lo, AR, Rui, TP, Gabe, Jax, those are the guys who really won the game for us.” – 11:15 PM
Remember about 2 weeks ago when the talk was one of the three all-time greats might not make the #NBAPlayoffs
Kevin Durant IN. Suns 6th seed.
LeBron James IN. Lakers 7th seed.
Steph Curry TBD. #Warriors down 14 to #Kings in 1st half of 9-10 play-in game in Sacramento – 10:59 PM
This can’t be your play on the biggest ATO of the season, man.
I get that Alvarado deflected the initial inbound out of bounds. Have a second play ready. I don’t care if you have LeBron James. You have to do better than a fadeaway jumper against a double at the end of the clock. pic.twitter.com/N9cl5mJ2t8 – 10:57 PM
LeBron James talks Lakers’ Play-In win over Pelicans, Denver rematch, supporting cast stepping up pic.twitter.com/tn1uVjiK81 – 10:50 PM
LeBron has now won 9 consecutive “Do or Die” games, over the last 15 years (Game 7s & Play-Ins).
(It’s 12-0 if you include the In Season Tournament!)
His last loss in one of those games was 2008 at Boston, at age 23, when he had 45-5-6 in a 5 point loss. – 10:36 PM
Free throw attempts tonight:
20 — LeBron and AD
15 — Pelicans pic.twitter.com/mbxm9ePufU – 10:15 PM
Lakers will be tougher competition than they were last year. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are fresher. They don’t play as small as they did last season. Still, it should be a series Denver handles fairly easily. The Nuggets know the Lakers better than they know themselves. – 10:14 PM
On a night LAL was outrebounded 50-41 and the bench was outscored 32-17, a couple of huge factors in the Lakers win: only gave up 8 turnovers, leading to 5 pts and while LeBron & AD only shot 12-for-36 from the field, they were 18-for-20 on FTs. – 10:13 PM
Final: Lakers 110, Pelicans 106
The Lakers advance and will be the No. 7 seed. They will face the No. 2 Denver Nuggets in a rematch of last season’s WCF. LeBron had 23/9/9. AD had 20 and 15. DLo had 21. LA improves to 3-0 in the Play-In.
Up next: Game 1 at Denver on Saturday. – 10:09 PM
LeBron tonight:
23 PTS
9 REB
9 AST
3 STL
2 BLK
3-0 in the Play-In. statmuse.com/nba/player/leb… – 10:09 PM
Regardless of Zion’s injury, not getting the rebound after that LeBron miss is brutal. – 10:05 PM
LeBron is 1-for-8 in the 4th and his legs look shot. But AD bailed him out with a huge offensive rebound with Larry Nance Jr. all over him. AD hits two FTs and LAL is up 106-102 with 14.8 seconds left. – 10:04 PM
Watching LeBron jump and yell at Rui to get in the right spot after hearing him on the pod talk about how much that drives him crazy was great. – 10:04 PM
Dyson could not have played better defense on LeBron. Man. Tough to not come up with the ball there. – 10:03 PM
LeBron James scores a tough jumper over Herb Jones, but Trey Murphy responds with a runner over Anthony Davis.
Pelicans not laying down just because Zion Williamson isn’t in the game. – 9:56 PM
LeBron James cleared out CJ McCollum with his off arm but no call. Instead Trey Murphy gets whistled for a personal foul.
Crowd remains stunned by Zion Williamson leaving the floor, but everyone is standing and still celebrating positive plays. – 9:54 PM
Zion is just absolutely obliterating LeBron and AD in the second half – 9:52 PM
NOP’s defensive unit of Alvarado, Murphy, Jones, Zion and Nance has impacted what LAL want to do, and Zion’s taking care of the offense. LeBron and AD are trying to find the extra energy, but Zion has plenty, now up to 40 points on 17 for 27 FG’s.
Tie game with 3:13 left. – 9:52 PM
LeBron is clearly tired, and AD clearly ain’t all the way right from that back injury. It’s officially “hold onto your butts!” time, kids. AK – 9:52 PM
NOP is selling out to try and contain LeBron + AD in screen/roll action and isolations, and they’re just 9 for 30 in what feels like a Game 2 against a desperate team that lost Game 1.
We’ll see if Rui (5 for 6), Reaves (5 for 10) or Russell (6 for 13) get open looks here. – 9:46 PM
Jose Alvarado hits a 3 after LeBron misses at the rim and it’s a 2-point game.
SKC is lit. – 9:43 PM
LeBron and AD are a combined 8-for-25. Yet LAL leads 89-80 with 8:59 to go in the 4th Q. Lakers defense is holding NOP to 41.6% overall and 28% from 3. – 9:37 PM
Story of the season:
Lakers +14 in LeBron’s 29 minutes, -7 in the 7 minutes he sat.
Expect LeBron to go close to the whole way in the 4th & close this thing out, but LA should be up 15 here. – 9:30 PM
Zion has already played 32 minutes, 3 more than LeBron and 1 more than AD.
Zion and AD both get a rest to start the 4th, with LeBron running things for LAL. – 9:30 PM
END OF 3Q: Lakers 83, Pelicans 76.
New Orleans went on an 8-2 run in the final 2:14 with LeBron James on the bench. – 9:26 PM
The charges are great, but LeBron’s overall activity and effort on defense this game has just been incredible. That’s he’s still able to do any of this is insane – 9:12 PM
LeBron taking a charge on Zion looks exactly like you’d imagine it pic.twitter.com/GxomJis7OM – 9:07 PM
After Zion scored 20 pts in the first half, LeBron has come out paying extra attention to him in the 3rd Q. He’s already taken a charge on him and fronted/broken up two entry passes. – 9:00 PM
Lakers / Pelicans kicks:
• LeBron – LeBron 21
• Zion – Zion 3
• AD – LeBron 21
• Larry Nance – Air Jordan 13 pic.twitter.com/3F9BP3cqz8 – 9:00 PM
LeBron, who took a pair of charges on Zion back in the In-Season Tournament Semifinal, just took another here early in the 3rd Q, Zion’s 3rd PF. – 8:57 PM
Whyyyyy did LeBron try to take a charge on Zion of all people – 8:57 PM
When exactly did pro players decide not to stop the dribbler? Especially LeBron! – 8:56 PM
The Lakers scored 50 points in the paint in the 1st half of Sunday’s game, and led 70-53 at the half.
NOP tightened things up inside tonight, selling out to help on Davis and LeBron at the rim, but the Lakers had an answer in hitting 10 of 20 3’s in the half to lead 60-50. – 8:50 PM
Bron shaking his head somewhere reading this quote lol pic.twitter.com/63BnD9JDdd – 8:48 PM
Halftime: Lakers 60, Pelicans 50.
Zion Williamson with a coast-to-coast buzzer-beating layup. Lakers won the 2Q 34-16, but allowed the Pelicans to close out on a 6-2 run. LeBron James: 15 points, five assists, four rebounds. D’Angelo Russell: 15 points, six assists. – 8:41 PM
Zion goes coast to coast to get a layup to go at the buzzer and LAL takes a 60-50 lead into the half. LeBron 15 pts 5 ast 4 reb; D-Lo 15 pts 6 ast; Vincent with 6 pts and 1 stl in 8 extremely-effective minutes. Zion leads NOP with 20 pts on 9-of-15 shooting 8 reb 3 ast. – 8:41 PM
Halftime: Lakers 60, Pelicans 50
LA outscored New Orleans 34-16 in the second quarter. LeBron has 15/4/5. DLo has 15 points and 6 assists. AD has 6 points (2-7 FGs) and 8 rebounds. Every Laker has a positive plus-minus except for Spencer Dinwiddie (-9 in 5 min). – 8:40 PM
I know LeBron was frustrated there but idk what you’re supposed to do with Zion when he’s going like that. – 8:40 PM
Not sure what LeBron was mad about after his gamble in the backcourt gave Zion a free run? He didn’t like Prince letting Zion go left maybe? – 8:40 PM
It’s a 32-10 margin in this 2nd Q after 2 LeBron FT’s put LAL up 58-44 with 1:40 to play. – 8:34 PM
LeBron calling the next play alongside Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/L2bM3osnLD – 8:32 PM
Has any player roller skated more often in a buffalo herd than LeBron? – 8:30 PM
Larry Nance to the table after LeBron gets 2 fastbreak layups. One JV wasn’t back, the other he got traffic coned. – 8:25 PM
After the Pelicans made the first basket of the second quarter, the Lakers responded with a 9-0 run to trim the deficit to just one, 36-35, with 9:40 left in the second quarter. The LeBron-led run has come from forcing turnovers, getting out in transition and attacking the rim. – 8:12 PM
Quick 9-0 run by the Lakers here that was seemingly ignited by a ridiculously-impressive Zion Williamson block on LeBron James. – 8:11 PM
A quick 9-0 LAL run (Vincent 3, LeBron dunk, Hayes dunk, Russell jumper) has the Lakers back within 3 after they trailed by 10 for a moment.
This 2nd unit has been strong of late. – 8:11 PM
First quarter: Pelicans 34, Lakers 26
The Lakers were outscored 11-5 over the final 3:50 with LeBron off the floor. DLo has 13 points and 4 assists. AD has 5 points on just 2-of-6 shooting. LA is shooting 34.6%. Zion (10 points) has nearly matched his total from last game (12). – 8:07 PM
LeBron sat with LAL trailing 23-21, and New Orleans finished the period on an 11-5 run to lead by 8 at 34-26.
Zion got untracked with LeBron sitting, hitting 5 of 6 FG’s, 3 of which came in that final stretch.
Lakers shot just 34.6% against increased NOP ball pressure. – 8:07 PM
Zion caught a little rhythm with LeBron on the bench. Pelicans outscored Lakers 16-4 in the paint. They lead 34-26 after the first. – 8:06 PM
Zion slips past LeBron AND AD for the score 😲
(via @NBAonTNT)
pic.twitter.com/ffVvNN3yGk – 7:54 PM
LeBron James just sat down, so what does Willie Green do? He quickly puts Zion Williamson right back into the game.
Let’s see if this pays off. – 7:53 PM
LAL took the first Pelicans punch pretty well here, and lead 21-20 heading into a time out with 5:10 to play.
The Lakers, who scored mostly in the paint in the 1st half on Sunday, are 4 for 6 from 3, with Russell hitting 2, LeBron and Reaves 1 apiece. – 7:47 PM
LeBron is sagging WAY off Zion on every play to start this one. pic.twitter.com/nNRO1shu1d – 7:42 PM
Think the #Lakers sneak by but this should be a good one. Saw NOLA -1. They’re so overdue to make the playoffs in this Zion era. All they have to do is win a game they should be in prime position, but LeBron… – 7:36 PM
Lakers’ starters vs. New Orleans:
D’Angelo Russell
Austin Reaves
Rui Hachimura
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Record as starters: 18-6 – 7:04 PM
Lakers-Pelicans things to watch:
—LeBron’s drop defense on Zion and if Williamson will keep taking mid-range jumpers/Pels setting picks so Z gets downhill
—Whether Pelicans help defense will be alive unlike Sunday
—Ingram’s second game back, if him and Z will be rolling together – 6:46 PM
The Lakers say Anthony Davis (back spasms) and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game at New Orleans. – 6:44 PM
Anthony Davis (back spasms) and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game at New Orleans.
Cam Reddish (right ankle sprain) has been downgraded to OUT. – 6:44 PM
Lakers say Anthony Davis (back spasms) and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game at New Orleans. Cam Reddish (right ankle sprain) has been downgraded to OUT. – 6:44 PM
Anthony Davis and LeBron James are playing against the New Orleans Pelicans, per the Lakers.
Cam Reddish is out. – 6:43 PM
Kawhi Leonard has accepted the final spot for Team USA.
Officially one of the most loaded Olympics rosters ever:
LeBron James
Stephen Curry
Kevin Durant
Joel Embiid
Jayson Tatum
Devin Booker
Kawhi Leonard
Anthony Edwards
Tyrese Haliburton
Anthony Davis
Bam Adebayo
Jrue Holiday pic.twitter.com/ITduU7UGwM – 6:24 PM
Kawhi Leonard has accepted the final open spot for Team USA.
Officially of the most loaded Olympics rosters ever:
LeBron James
Stephen Curry
Kevin Durant
Joel Embiid
Jayson Tatum
Devin Booker
Kawhi Leonard
Anthony Edwards
Tyrese Haliburton
Anthony Davis
Bam Adebayo
Jrue Holiday pic.twitter.com/3d9XRAX91e – 6:21 PM
So now only basketball players that made the HOF can talk about basketball!! lol
By the end of the week, MJ and Bron gonna be the only ppl on the planet that can comment on the NBA!! pic.twitter.com/UWGzVmqqUp – 5:55 PM
LeBron pulling up to the Play-In looking LOCKED IN
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/tLDfWmr59Q – 4:57 PM
For the sickos who like to watch, Tuesday’s @LockedOnLakers pod, on YouTube! We preview tonight’s Lakers-Pelicans 7-seed play-in game with @NOLAJake with @lockedonpels! LeBron v. Zion! How will the Pelicans guard AD? @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
youtu.be/HPuKbDbusks?t=1 – 4:03 PM
Will we get one more win-or-go-home matchup between the godheads of this era of hoops, LeBron and Steph?
@dannychau: theringer.com/nba/2024/4/16/… – 3:14 PM
This is really good stuff from @ClaireMPLS : Why do we obsess over the retirement of LeBron, Curry and others when they still play at such a high level?
theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr… – 1:43 PM
Knicks’ unearthed 2010 LeBron James pitch video features The Sopranos, Trump and The Post nypost.com/2024/04/16/spo… via @nypostsports – 12:25 PM
LeBron in the Play-In:
30 PTS | 10 REB | 6 AST
22 PTS | 11 REB | 10 AST
How many for Bron tonight? statmuse.com/nba/player/leb… – 12:04 PM
The Play-In winner of Lakers vs. Pelicans tonight will face the Nuggets in the 1st Round
@JumpShot8 tells @TermineRadio he believes LeBron would embrace the opportunity to face Denver again. pic.twitter.com/Si3c0gq1Rm – 12:00 PM
I recently wrote about how LeBron, KD & Steph remain relevant despite advanced age (wapo.st/3U1QNIp). But this postseason, the young fellas can declare that it’s no country for old men. MIN can take out KD. NOP & SAC can block LeBron & Steph from the playoffs. Will they? – 11:27 AM
Tuesday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! We preview tonight’s Lakers-Pelicans 7/8 seed play-in with @NOLAJake from @lockedonpels. LeBron! Zion! AD! BI! D’Lo! How will the matchups and adjustments shake out? @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pla… – 10:30 AM
This gives you an idea of just how many tickets are on the open market for tonight’s Pelicans play-in game against the Lakers.
Never seen anything like it for a LeBron appearance in New Orleans.
Play-in fatigue has officially caught up to Pels fans. pic.twitter.com/aN9FdquyZQ – 10:27 AM
Here’s my 2nd Team All-NBA that I just submitted
1. KD
2. Giannis
3. Ant Edwards
4. Lebron
5. Maxey – 9:56 AM
My All NBA Teams Are:
1st Team: Luka, SGA, Giannis, Tatum, Jokic
2nd Team: Brunson, Edwards, LeBron, KD, AD
3rd Team: Steph, Fox, Booker, Kawhi, PG
Toughest Omissions: Brown, Halliburton, Paolo, Wemby, Gobert, Sabonis, Zion. – 8:11 AM
LeBron vs KD & Kawhi…
KD is 1st among them in PTS & BLK.
Kawhi is 1st among them in STL & WS.
LeBron is 1st among them in FG%, EFG%, TS% AST, REB, BPM, OBPM, DBPM, VORP.
Not sure how to argue LeBron doesn’t deserve one of the 2nd team All NBA spots. – 7:55 AM
Some people thought that because of LeBron’s age and seniority he’d get some sort of grading curve this year, but I actually think the *opposite* has happened where folks have pretended there’s been a significant decline, when he’s actually *better* than he was last year. – 7:47 AM
Weird thing is happening with a lot of All NBA ballots, where it seems to just be assumed Kawhi & KD are 2nd Teamers over LeBron… but I just can’t identify *why* that would be the case.
What’s the stat, metric, or eye test that either has been better? stathead.com/basketball/ver… – 7:45 AM
Now on @njdotcom
U.S. Olympic roster highlighted by LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant nj.com/sports/2024/04… – 7:12 AM
Bam Adebayo – Devin Booker – Stephen Curry – Anthony Davis – Kevin Durant – Anthony Edwards – Joel Embiid – Tyrese Haliburton – Jrue Holiday – LeBron James – Jayson Tatum
Building up Team USA for the Olympic Games #paris2024 #FIBA
eurohoops.net/en/olympic-gam… – 4:52 AM
USA Basketball is finalizing this roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, per @wojespn:
Steph Curry, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker
Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum
Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis
+ one open spot. – 12:39 AM
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