NBA postseason opens with Lakers, Kings victories

The Los Angeles Lakers have advanced in the NBA playoffs, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 in the play-in tournament on Wednesday night.  The Lakers had the #8 seed and the Pelicans #7 for the game, with the result pushing Los Angeles into a first-round series with the Denver Nuggets, starting Saturday at Ball Arena in Denver. 

The loss does not end the playoff run of New Orleans, but the Pelicans hopes of advancing into a first-round matchup with #1 seed Oklahoma City are now in peril, with superstar forward Zion Williamson, in the course of a 40 point performance, injuring his hamstring late in the fourth quarter.

That injury will leave Williamson out for Friday night’s play-in game against the Sacramento Kings, with early reports indicating multiple games could be missed by the former Duke All-American. 

The other Western Conference play-in game, the Sacramento Kings beat the rival Golden State Warriors 118-94, ending the season for the San Francisco based squad.  Keegan Murray had 32 points with eight three-pointers for the Kings, with De’Aaron Fox adding 22.  As the #9 seed in the standings, Sacramento travels to New Orleans to play the Pelicans, with the winner traveling to Oklahoma City for the first round. 

The Eastern Conference, there are a pair of play-in games tonight (Wednesday night), with the #7 seed Philadelphia 76ers playing the #8 seed Miami Heat at 6 o’clock, with the #9 seed Chicago Bulls battling the #10 seed Atlanta Hawks at 8:30.  Both games will be televised by ESPN. 

The 76ers and Heat winner will advance to a first-round series with the New York Knicks, with the Hawks/Bulls winner advancing to play the 76ers-Heat loser on Friday night.  The survivor will play the #1 seed Boston Celtics in the first round.  Wednesday night’s loser between Atlanta and Chicago will be eliminated from playoff competition. 

First-round series, set to begin this weekend: 

Western Conference: 

Sacramento OR New Orleans vs. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder

#5 Dallas Mavericks vs. #4 L.A. Clippers

#6 Phoenix Suns vs. #3 Minnesota Timberwolves

#7 L.A. Lakers vs. #2 Denver Nuggets

Eastern Conference: 

Miami OR Philadelphia vs. #2 New York Knicks 

#6 Indiana Pacers vs. #3 Milwaukee Bucks 

#5 Orlando Magic vs. #4 Cleveland Cavaliers

Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Philadelphia vs. #1 Boston Celtics