Danny Avdia's landing in Israel after a record season with the Washington Wizards/photo: Niv Aharonson. Video editing: Shiran Golan
The annual NBA play-in tournament kicked off tonight (between Tuesday and Wednesday) with two crucial games in the West. The night started with the duel between the Lakers and the Pelicans and between LeBron James and Zion Williamson, in the end James came out with the upper hand at the end of a thriller. Sacramento then humiliated Golden State and left them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Tonight's games:
New Orleans (7) - L.A. Lakers (8) 110:106 (the Lakers advance to the playoffs)
Sacramento (9) - Golden State (10) 94:118 (the Kings advance to a decisive game for 8th place)
New Orleans (7) - LA Lakers (8) 110:106 (the Lakers advance to the playoffs)
Play-in was invented exactly for games like this: two big stars, head to head for the ticket to the playoffs, in an evening of upheavals and drama, at the end LeBron James celebrates again. Many wondered before the game whether the Lakers would prefer to lose in advance so as not to cross paths with Denver in the first round, but in the end both teams had a big fight, which was largely decided by Zion Williamson's injury.
The New Orleans star, in his first ever appearance in the postseason, recorded a supreme game with 40 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists, playing with his guards and dominating the paint area, also against LeBron James. Five minutes to the end Zaion even "did LeBron" himself, when he blocked James on his way to the ring, but a minute later he injured his ankle, went down for treatment and did not return. Anthony Davis scored important baskets, Austin Reeves dunked from the line, and on the other hand the unfortunate Zion could not help and saw from the side how injuries and bad luck stopped him again.
LeBron himself recorded a good game, although with a bad percentage from the field (6 of 20), but with 10 of 10 from the penalty box and with a statistical line of 23 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. DeAngelo Russell added 21 and 6 assists, and Anthony Davis recorded 20, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks. On the other hand, New Orleans didn't get too much beyond Zion's play. CJ McCollum disappointed with 9 points including only 4 of 15 from the field, Brandon Ingram settled for 11 points and sat on the bench in the final minutes, and Larry Nance's flash with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists off the bench didn't help either.
In the bottom line, the Lakers and LeBron maintain a perfect balance in play-in (0:3), and are now waiting for Denver, the team that swept them in a sweep last season.
Sacramento (9) - Golden State (10) 94:118 (the Kings advance to a decisive game for 8th place)
Is this really the dynasty's swan song this time? After a storm-filled season, full of ups and downs, with faltering ability and uninspired basketball, the Warriors are going home earlier than expected, and entering a long summer of soul-searching. The Kings, whom they eliminated last year in the first round of the playoffs, dominated the game from the first moment, and proved that the experience and chemistry of the Golden State stars no longer plays a significant role as before. The Warriors' defense was ineffective from the first moment, and at the end of the opening quarter the Kings led by nine.
The Warriors made noises of a comeback with good minutes of Steph Curry in the second quarter, but in the third quarter - where Golden State used to run over and decide games in its heyday - it collapsed and saw Sacramento run away and close interest, with Keegan Murray sniping from every corner. Murray finished with 32 points and 9 rebounds, making 9 three-pointers. Diaron Fox added 24 and 6 assists, while Domantas Sabonis did his usual best with 16, 12 rebounds and 7 assists.
On the other side, only Steph Curry appeared when he scored 22 points. Moses Moody and Jonathan Cominga (7 rebounds) contributed 16 each, Draymond Green also reached reasonable numbers (12 and 6 assists), but Klay Thompson on a terrible night, perhaps in his last game in a Golden State uniform (now a free agent), finished without Points with 9 of 10 from the field, in a display that to a large extent perhaps symbolizes the end of an era.