Lakers survive Pelicans' rally, advance to matchup vs. Nuggets - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — LeBron James posted 23 points, 9 assists and 9 rebounds, and the Los Angeles 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.

Zion 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.

After the game, Pelicans coach Willie Green said Williamson had «left leg soreness.»

«He's going to have some imaging on it tomorrow, and we'll figure out more,» Green said.

Soon after Williamson exited, James hit a jumper, Anthony Davis dunked Austin Reaves' alley-oop lob, D'Angelo Russell hit a 3 and Davis grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, after which he hit two free throws to help the Lakers hold off New Orleans.

Davis tallied 20 points and 15 rebounds. Russell scored 21, hitting five times from deep.

The Lakers advance to face defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the first round in a rematch of last season's Western Conference finals, which was swept by the Nuggets. Game 1 is scheduled for Saturday night.

The Pelicans on Friday will take on the winner of Tuesday's other West play-in game between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings.

The Lakers went 14-of-35 from 3-point range.

The Pelicans hit 9-of-29 from deep, and Williamson didn't get a lot of help from the Pelicans' usual high scorers. Brandon Ingram missed 8 of 12 shots and finished with 11 points. CJ McCollum missed 11 of 15 shots and scored nine.

Trey Murphy III put up 12 points, hitting two 3s from beyond 28 feet in the second