James eliminated the Pelicans in a quasi-triple-double, and the three-point unworthy king welcomed his 17th trip to the playoffs
On April 17, Beijing time, the NBA play-offs ushered in the first day of competition. The Lakers defeated the Pelicans 110-106 on the road and qualified for the playoffs as No. 7 in the West.
The Lakers were able to win today, and James naturally contributed to it. In the whole game, James played a total of 41 minutes, shooting 6 of 20, including 1 of 5 three-pointers and 10 of 10 free throws, with a total of 23 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, in addition to 3 steals and 2 blocks. Although the shooting percentage is not high, James's plus/minus is as high as +11!
James didn't shoot well in the first quarter today, finishing with 3 points and 2 assists on 1-of-4 shooting. But after entering the second quarter of the game, James frantically attacked the Pelicans basket, he not only scored three times but also caused consecutive fouls, 3 of 5 in the single quarter, 6 of 6 free throws to get 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Led by James, the Lakers turned the game around with a 34-16 run from the Pelicans in the second quarter.
After entering the third quarter of the game, although James reduced his shots, he played a very tough performance on both offensive and defensive ends. He not only attacked the basket, but also assisted teammates and steals in a row to help the Lakers stabilize the situation. However, in the final quarter of the game, James's form deteriorated badly, and he missed the first six shots in a row, but fortunately hit two free throws at the critical moment, and then hit a mid-range shot. The Lakers held on to their last-minute advantage and won a thrilling away victory.
With today's promotion, James will be making his 17th career playoff trip. Throughout James' career, he only missed the playoffs in 2003-04, 2004-05, 2018-19, and 2021-22. In his first 16 playoff appearances, James reached the Division Finals 12 times, reached the Finals 10 times, and won the championship four times. And 17 playoff appearances also rank first among active players and tie for fifth all-time.
In addition, today's game is the third time in James' career that he has competed in the play-offs. James led the team to defeat the Warriors in 2021 to advance to the playoffs, and in 2023 to beat the Timberwolves to advance to the playoffs.
After finishing 7th in the West, the Lakers will face defending champion Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Will James be able to lead the Lakers to the next level, and what kind of performance he can make in his 17th career playoff trip?