LeBron James appeared energized, strong on both sides of the floor, and prepared to contribute in the postseason as he wrapped up his 21st NBA regular season.

James finished with 28 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds, and five steals as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated New Orleans 124-108 on Sunday to secure the eighth spot in the Western Conference and knock the Pelicans out of the coveted top six.

“Winning is all I want.” Therefore, I will be whatever the game asks me to be,” James, who also starts as Zion Williamson’s primary defender for the Pelicans, said. I’m a cutlery from Switzerland. Nothing is set in stone, but I have to do it all on the floor.”

In order to help set up a rematch in the conference play-in on Tuesday night in the same venue, Anthony Davis recorded 30 points and 11 rebounds against the team that selected him as the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

Davis claimed his lower back “locked up” after being shoved from behind while in the air. He also stated that his injury was “nothing concerning.” Davis asked to leave the game in the closing minutes and cautiously made his way back to the locker room while clutching his lower back.

Davis declared, “I’m going to play in the play-in game on Tuesday, without a doubt.” “Just keep it flexible, get some massages and medical attention. Just wait and see how I feel in the coming 36 hours, then get ready.”

Los Angeles outscored New Orleans 68-42 in the paint thanks in large part to James’ playmaking, which led to his sixth triple-double of the year.

Williamson remarked, “They got whatever they wanted in the paint.” “They were superior to us in the paint.

According to James, his goal was to “read the game and just find my teammates.”

“Just try to put the ball on time and on target for either jump shots or guys at the rim,” said James. “Just trying to be very efficient with my play.”

Williamson, who leads the Pelicans in scoring per game with 23 points, was held to 12 points by James as well.

“What a beast he is. Williamson is nearly impossible to stop, James remarked. “So, just try to keep a body on him and just try to make it tough on him.”

Conversely, Williamson chastised himself for “being too passive.”

“I don’t think I was super aggressive the whole game,” he stated.

With eight victories in their last eleven regular-season games, the Lakers were led by 20 points from Austin Reaves and 19 from D’Angelo Russell.

The Pelicans, who had just returned high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram to the lineup after a four-game winning streak on the road, were led by 23-point shooter CJ McCollum, but they struggled at home to secure a No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in round.

Rather, the battle reminded fans of the Lakers’ embarrassing 133-89 victory against the Pelicans in the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinal in Las Vegas in December.

Coach Willie Green of the Pelicans commented, “They punched us right in the mouth and they kept going.” “We let a really good opportunity slip away.”

With a left knee contusion that kept him out of the previous twelve games, Ingram scored thirteen points. Herb Jones gave New Orleans another eighteen points.

The Lakers headed to the foul line due to what appeared to be an official error after Ingram’s three-pointer put the Pelicans ahead 28–24 at the start of the first quarter.

During the final two minutes of the game, Los Angeles committed their second foul, but official John Goble declared that they were incorrectly denied free throws. The Prince Taurean made both.

Prince’s driving layup to start the second quarter gave the Lakers a 32–24 lead. James then scored a reverse layup to start a 9-0 run that put the score at 41-26.

The Lakers were pulling down long rebounds and making baskets in transition, while New Orleans was missing 14 of its first 19 attempts from beyond the arc.

The Lakers took a 53-33 lead after Reaves’ 3-pointer and breakaway slam. It was their first 20-point advantage. Reaves 3 more brought the score 70-53.

With a 3-pointer by Reaves, two more from Russell, and a cutting slam by Davis to start the third quarter, the Lakers led 83-57.

The Lakers’ highest lead came from a Russell 3; they now led 91-59.

“Now that we’re here, as a team, we need to regroup,” Williamson remarked. “We didn’t get the result we wanted, but our confidence is still there.”

Next up

Tuesday night at the same venue will see a higher-stakes rematch, with the winner earning the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The losers will host a second play-in game against the victor of the Golden State Warriors’ (10th) and Sacramento Kings’ (9th) seeds.