The Los Angeles Lakers are through the Play-in Tournament after eking out a 110-106 win on the road Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. Had they lost that game, LeBron James and company would still be in the running for a playoff spot but would have to play the Sacramento Kings in a do-or-die game.
Heading into the Lakers-Pelicans matchup, not a few people believe that the Lakers should throw that game because a win over New Orleans would put Los Angeles in a dangerous series against the reigning NBA champions Denver Nuggets, who finished the regular season with the second-best record in the Western Conference standings.
Los Angeles Lakers Star LeBron James is Not Afraid of the Nuggets, per Nick Wright
It’s fair to presume before the Play-in Tournament that the Lakers would not want to be on such an early collision course against the powerful Nuggets, who are undefeated in three games this season versus Los Angeles. But in the eyes of known LeBron James fan Nick Wright of FOX Sports, the four-time league Most Valuable Player are not fearing the reigning champs.
You know who I know doesn’t think the Lakers should avoid Denver? LeBron James. You know who I know? I shouldn’t say I know this part, but I have real reason to believe agrees with me that playing them now is better than playing them in a month? LeBron James. And you know who is, to add to Bruce’s point, they’re even hotter than the overall record suggests, because they’re 9-1 in their last 10 where LeBron and AD both play. You throw out the game that AD played, but went out immediately when he got hit in the face. LeBron is playing some of the best basketball of his season as of late.
"You know who I know doesn't think the Lakers should avoid Denver? LeBron James."
— @getnickwright on Lakers-Pelicans Play-In, and why LeBron will be motivated to win in New Orleans: pic.twitter.com/u43Lc6sGgV
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 16, 2024
The Lakers and the Nuggets have developed some sort of rivalry after meeting in a couple of series the last few seasons; the Lakers defeated Denver in the Western Conference Finals in 2020, four games to one; the Nuggets got their payback three years later when they swept Los Angeles in the West Finals.
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