Pelicans facing daunting play-in rematch with Lakers following dismal regular-season finale

The result clinched eighth place for the Lakers and knocked the Pelicans from sixth place into the play-in. Now, two days after James did anything he wanted – he finished with a 28-17-11 triple-double on Sunday – the Pelicans have to play this same team in the same place again in a game for the No. 7 seed.

It's a worst-case scenario for the Pelicans, who are 1-3 against the Lakers this year. They've lost those games by an average of 15.7 points, though they did beat L.A. by 20 points at home on New Year's Eve.

But perhaps most daunting is that Zion Williamson once again disappeared against the Lakers in a must-win game. He had 12 points and eight rebounds, along with four turnovers. When the Lakers trounced the Pelicans in the semifinal of the in-season tournament, Williamson had 13 points and three turnovers while grabbing only two rebounds.

The one negative for a nearly-flawless season finale for the Lakers was that Anthony Davis left the game with just over five minutes to go, with what Lakers coach Darvin Ham called a "spasm."

Davis is expected to be back for Tuesday's play-in game. It's not clear how long he would have remained in the contest, anyway, as the Lakers were up by 21 points when he exited.

New Orleans may have the home-court in Tuesday's play-in bout, but Sunday showed that it's the Lakers who have the advantage.