New Orleans Pelicans in danger of missing playoffs after loss to Los Angeles Lakers
summary
- The Pelicans lost to the Lakers in the play-in tournament.
- New Orleans is now in the win or home stage and looks to avoid elimination.
With the Los Angeles Lakers suffering their first loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2023-2024 NBA play-in tournament, the team now faces a must-win situation if they hope to make it to the postseason. As most NBA fans should be aware, the Lakers and Pelicans faced off as part of the play-in tournament and the winner was guaranteed a spot as the #7 seed.
Although this game went down to the wire and could have gone either way, LeBron James and the Lakers won and will face the Denver Nuggets again in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. While this win would keep the Lakers’ hopes of a playoff push alive, the same cannot be said for the Pelicans.
Zion Williamson and Jose Alvarado were both injured against the Lakers
It has often been said that hits and matchups determine the winner of a game or series. This idea was reinforced during the game between the Lakers and the Pelicans. Although the Lakers held a small lead for most of the game, they had no answer for Zion Williamson who finished the night with a 40-point 11 rebound performance.
Williamson suffered an injury with less than 3 minutes left in the game and was sidelined as the Lakers extended their lead and won the game. Additionally, Jose Alvarado sprained his ankle multiple times in this game but remained on the court despite the potential compromise.
On the other hand, none of the Lakers’ key players sustained any noticeable injuries as the team was able to hold on to a slim lead and beat the Pelicans on the road. The Lakers’ upcoming matchup with the defending NBA champions, the Pelicans, has been confirmed; The future looks bleak at this time.
Can the New Orleans Pelicans keep their playoff hopes alive?
The situation undoubtedly looks grim for the Pelicans. While their chances of making the playoffs are far from over, the potential absence of Zion Williamson or Jose Alvarado in their upcoming games against the Warriors or Kings greatly diminishes their chances of winning despite homecourt advantage.
Since Williamson’s injury does not appear to be too serious, it is possible for him to recover in time for their win or a home game against the winner of the 9th and 10th seed matchup. Although the New Orleans Pelicans finished the season as the 7th seed and should have had a cemented spot for the playoffs, their postseason hopes now depend on the outcome of a single game.