Lakers lose to Pelicans despite stars return to the lineup.
With five games left in the regular season, the Lakers pushed their play-in chances further out the window, falling to the Pelicans 114–111, cementing the Pelicans' 9th play-in spot and leaving the 10th seed as the Lakers' only hope of making the playoffs, as they remain in 11th place with a 31–46 record.
Frank Vogel spoke on the Lakers' mindset for the final five games of the regular season, with their play-in chances in jeopardy.
"Win as many games as we can down the stretch, then we'll see what happens with San Antonio," Vogel said.
New Orleans' C.J. McCollum and former Laker Brandon Ingram combined for 61 points on the night, with McCollum scoring 32 points on 12-of-23 (50%) shooting overall from the floor and teammate Brandon Ingram close behind with 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Despite LeBron James and Anthony Davis returning to the Lakers lineup from injury, it wasn't enough to put them in the win column, with both combining for 61 points.
LeBron James still managed to toughen it out in his return to the lineup, not looking like 100% himself, scoring a game-high 38 points on 52% (13-for-23) shooting overall, going 3-for-8 (54%) from behind the arc, adding 8 rebounds and 4 assists in 39 total minutes of action.
"It was pretty much a must-win (game) for us, and we didn't get the job done." LeBron added, "Until it says we're eliminated, it doesn't (on the season being over tonight)."
Anthony Davis finished second on the Lakers in his return to the lineup since February 16th, scoring 23 points on 47% (8-for-17) shooting, adding 12 rebounds and 6 assists in 36 minutes played.
"Our mindset is to go 5–0 in these games and let the chips fall where they may," Davis said on the final five games of the regular season.
It was a shocking coaching decision with Frank Vogel and the coaching staff not giving the Lakers' young core Talen Horton-Tucker and Austin Reaves 0 mins (DNP) in tonight's loss to the Pelicans.
"This is a playoff game for us. You use the roster however you see fit in terms of that matchup." Vogel said on the DNP decision for the Lakers' young players.
The Lakers' next matchup is Sunday evening against the 6th seed Denver Nuggets, who sit at 46–32, making it an apparent must-win matchup for the Lakers.