SUMMARY
- The Pelicans lost to the Lakers in the play-in tournament.
- New Orleans is now in a win or go home stage and looks to avoid elimination.
With the Los Angeles Lakers handing the New Orleans Pelicans their first loss in the 2023-2024 NBA play-in tournament, the team now faces a must-win situation if they have hopes of making it to the postseason. As most NBA fans should be aware, the Lakers and Pelicans faced off as a part of the play-in tournament with the winner guaranteeing a spot as the #7 seed.
While this game went down to the wire and could have gone either way, LeBron James and the Lakers ended up winning and will face the Denver Nuggets once again in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Although the Lakers’ hopes to make a playoff push look alive with this win, the same cannot be said for the Pelicans.
Both Zion Williamson and Jose Alvarado sustained injuries vs the Lakers
It has often been said that injuries and matchups decide the winner of a game or series. This notion was reinforced during the game between the Lakers and Pelicans. Although the Lakers had a small lead for the majority of the game, they simply had no answer for Zion Williamson who finished the night with a 40-point 11 rebound performance.
Williamson appeared to sustain an injury with less than 3 minutes left in the game and was sidelined as the Lakers ended up extending their lead and winning this game. Moreover, Jose Alvarado twisted his ankle multiple times in this game but continued to stay on the court despite being potentially compromised.
Can the New Orleans Pelicans keep their playoff hopes alive?
The situation undoubtedly looks bad for the Pelicans. While their chances of making the playoffs are still not over, the potential absence of Zion Williamson or Jose Alvarado for their upcoming game against the Warriors or Kings greatly reduces their chances of winning despite having homecourt advantage.