The New Orleans Pelicans missed their chance to avoid facing the Los Angeles Lakers again by losing the final regular-season game. Instead, they now have to play the Lakers in New Orleans for the NBA play-in round. The winner will advance to face the Denver Nuggets, while the loser gets another chance to make the playoffs.
The Lakers dominated the Pelicans in their recent game, winning by a large margin. Despite this, Lakers’ star LeBron James is wary of the rematch, expecting a tough and physical game. Pelicans coach Willie Green acknowledges his team’s need to be more aggressive and physically dominant.
Despite the loss, Pelicans’ forward Brandon Ingram returned from injury, and CJ McCollum continues to perform well. However, their efforts weren’t enough in the last game. Zion Williamson struggled against the Lakers’ defense, and the Pelicans gave up too many points in the first half. Despite the setback, the Pelicans are determined to bounce back in the upcoming game on their home court.
