In the Western Conference play-in tournament on Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 to guarantee a spot in the playoffs. LeBron James finished with 23 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. In his first NBA postseason, Zion Williamson finished with 40 points and 11 rebounds. However, Williamson left the game with 3:19 remaining, tying it at 95 with a driving layup. He then proceeded to the locker room, apparently hurt, and threw a towel to the ground in disdain as he entered the tunnel.

James made a jump shot shortly after, Anthony Davis slammed a lob pass from Austin Reaves, DeAngelo Russell made a three-pointer, and Davis grabbed a vital оffensive rebound before making two free throws to help the Lakers fend off New Orleans.

Davis finished with 15 rebounds and 20 points. Russell scored 21 points, making five long-range hits.

In the opening round, the Lakers will play the reigning NBA champion Denver in a rematch of the Nuggets’ sweeping victory in the Western Conference finals last season. 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.

The Lakers made 14 of their 35 3-point attempts. The Pelicans were 9 of 29 from beyond the arc, and Williamson didn’t have much assistance from the team’s typical high scorers. Brandon Ingram finished with 11 points after missing 8 of his 12 shots. Nine goals and 11 missed shots was CJ McCollum’s stat line.

Trey Murphy III helped New Orleans rally to tie the game after falling behind by as much as 18 points with 12 points, including two 3-pointers from beyond 28 feet in the second half.

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 drew up a 31-foot 3-pointer, and Williamson’s free throw at the end of the frame made 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 128-108 defeat to the Lakers in Sunday’s final regular-season game, the Pelicans played well in the first quarter, taking a 34-28 lead on a three-pointer from Herb Jones.

But in 16 attempts, New Orleans only managed four 3-pointers in the first half. In contrast, the Lakers shot 10 of 20 from beyond the arc in the first two quarters, including three points from Russell.

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.

With two inside buckets, Williamson, who finished the half with 20 points, reduced New Orleans’ halftime deficit to 10 points. The first came after Ingram found him for a dunk on a backside cut. Williamson dribbled his way the whole length of the court in the last seconds of the game to make a layup at the buzzer that tied the score 60–50.