NBA Playoffs Recap: Sacramento Kings Triumph, Lakers Advance

Kings defeat Warriors 118-94 to advance past them in the play-in round.

TFD – Catch up on the NBA playoffs with thrilling victories for the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors in a remarkable showdown, while LeBron James led the Lakers to a crucial win against the New Orleans Pelicans. Get insights into standout performances, key matchups, and the excitement of the postseason action heating up in the NBA.

Play-in game, James and the Lakers defeated the Pelicans 110-106.

LeBron is still one of a kind in an era with exceptional older talent.

The Sacramento Kings survived the play-in round on Tuesday night, defeating the Golden State Warriors 118-94 behind 32 points from Keegan Murray and 24 from De’Aaron Fox.

After ending an NBA record 16-year postseason drought last season, Sacramento advanced to play against New Orleans on Friday night with the opportunity to make a playoff comeback as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

One of the most significant victories for the team in twenty years, the Kings overcame a Game 7 defeat at home to Golden State in the previous year’s first round by outplaying the more experienced Warriors and being quicker to loose balls.

After two losses in the play-in tournament, Golden State was eliminated from the playoffs for the third time in the previous five seasons as a result of the loss. The Warriors committed 16 turnovers, gave up 15 offensive rebounds and way too many open three-pointers, looking nothing like the dynastic team that won four titles from 2015-22.

Stephen Curry didn’t receive nearly enough assistance, and Klay Thompson missed all ten of his field goals. Curry finished with 22 points, but Keon Ellis harassed him for the majority of the contest.

Along with his solid defense, the undrafted Ellis—who had a two-way contract until February—added 15 points. For Sacramento, Domantas Sabonis had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Harrison Barnes scored 17.

This matchup between the rivals from Northern California, separated by less than 100 miles, was a replay of Golden State’s victory in the series last year. Curry finished the seventh game with 50 points.

Even while the intensity didn’t quite approach that of last year’s game, when Sacramento supporters celebrated the end of the franchise’s record-breaking postseason drought, the crowd was boisterous from the first.

Before the Warriors rallied behind their bench to narrow the gap to 54-50 at the half, Murray made four three-pointers in the first quarter and the Kings extended their lead to 16 points in the second.

Early in the third quarter, Golden State pulled within one, but Sacramento rallied to win 19–5, led by two three-pointers from Ellis that extended the advantage to 15 points.

There were yells of “Light the beam!” throughout the last few minutes of the game because the Kings were never in danger.

New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and their supporting group, are looking more formidable in the playoffs than they did a few weeks ago.

As Zion Williamson, a great power forward, sustained an injury in the closing minutes of a close game, his dominant NBA postseason debut was cut short, the New Orleans Pelicans find themselves on the verge of elimination and worry about his health.

James had 23 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, and the Lakers secured a playoff berth with a 110-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference play-in tournament on Tuesday night.

James, whose team has won 12 of its last 15 games, said, “Tonight we showcased what we were able to do both offensively and defensively.” “We have a solid group in place right now, a solid rotation, a solid plan, and guys are showing up prepared to work.”

Williamson had 40 points and 11 rebounds in his NBA postseason debut. But shortly after tying the game at 95 on a driving layup with 3:19 to go, Williamson went to the locker room, throwing a towel to the floor in disgust as he walked into the tunnel with an apparent injury.

Williamson suffered “left leg soreness,” according to Pelicans coach Willie Green, following the game.

Green stated, “We’ll find out more tomorrow after some imaging on it.”

James made a jumper, Davis slammed an alley-oop pass from Austin Reaves, DeAngelo Russell made a three-pointer, and Davis secured an important offensive rebound before making two free throws to help the Lakers hang on. All of this happened just after Williamson was benched.

The Pelicans dealt us some severe punches, according to Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. They continued to swing. We did not stop retaliating.

He continued, “It revealed a lot about us and what we’re made of.”

In the end, Davis had 15 rebounds and 20 points. Russell scored 21 points, making five long-range hits. Davis made eight of ten free shots, while James made ten.

In a replay of the Western Conference finals from the previous season, which the Nuggets won handily, the Lakers advance to play the reigning NBA champions Denver in the opening round. This Saturday night is game one.

On Friday, the Pelicans will play the victor of Golden State vs. Sacramento, the other West play-in game.

“Obviously a tough loss for us,” stated Green, whose team’s loss against the Lakers at home, 124-108, on Sunday prevented them from securing the sixth seed in the NBA playoffs. The play-in game against the Lakers is scheduled for Tuesday night. “We need to process this one tonight, gather our thoughts, and prepare for the next one.”

Green described Williamson as “fantastic”.

He got into the swing of things. He just kept attacking. He discovered seams. He pulled the ball back. He performed quickly,” Green went on. “Maybe we can get this worked out if we have him for a few more minutes.”

The Lakers made 14 out of 35 three-pointers. Williamson didn’t have much assistance from the Pelicans’ typical high scorers, as the team made 9 of 29 shots from beyond the arc. In his second game back following a 12-game absence due to a knee injury, Brandon Ingram finished with 11 points despite missing 8 of his 12 shots and sitting on the bench for the last few minutes.

Green remarked, “I just like the group that was on the floor at that time.” “BI is still recovering and establishing his rhythm. I therefore didn’t want to press the matter.

Nine goals and 11 missed shots was CJ McCollum’s stat line.

After falling behind by as much as 18 points in the second half, Trey Murphy III rallied New Orleans with 12 points, including two three-pointers from beyond 28 feet.

Following Rui Hachimura’s layup in the third quarter, the Lakers took a 75-57 lead. But in the last 5:31 of the game, New Orleans even the score with a 19-8 victory over Los Angeles.

Williamson’s two layups ignited the charge. In the last second of the quarter, Murphy scored a 31-foot three-pointer, and Williamson’s free throw at the end of the frame put the score 83-76.

With 3:53 remaining, Williamson crushed Jose Alvarado’s alley-oop pass in transition to tie the game for the Pelicans at 93.

In an attempt to atone for their dismal performance against the Lakers on Sunday, the Pelicans had a strong first quarter, leading 34-28 after a three-pointer by Herb Jones.

Los Angeles took an early lead, outscoring New Orleans 34–16 in the second quarter. James, who had 15 points in the first half, made two free throws to put Los Angeles ahead 58–44.

Williamson dribbled almost the whole length of the court in the closing seconds of the half to make a floating layup at the horn that tied the score at 60.