Gabe Vincent impressed in the Los Angeles Lakers’ hard-fought 110-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA play-in on Tuesday (Wednesday Nigerian time) at the Smoothie King Center.
Vincent contributed nine points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal, proving his defensive value and helping the Lakers secure a playoff berth.
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The Lakers will now face a tough challenge in the first round, going up against the defending champion Denver Nuggets. The series kicks off on April 21st, with Nikola Jokic leading the charge for the Nuggets.
Vincent’s return has been a positive development for the Lakers’ defense. The team hopes he can maintain the impressive form he displayed during last year’s playoffs with the Miami Heat, showcasing consistency and poise.
Following the win, Vincent praised the bench’s performance: “I’m glad our bench was able to step up tonight and make some plays” when the starters weren’t at their peak.
LeBron James led the Lakers with a well-rounded performance of 23 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. D’Angelo Russell chipped in with 21 points, while Anthony Davis added a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Ex-D’Tigers and current Sacramento Kings coach, Mike Brown, got the better of his former team, the Golden State Warriors sending them out of the NBA Play-In Tournament with a 118-94 win at the Golden 1 Center.
Brown, an Associate Head coach with the Warriors from 2016 to 2022, was on the receiving end of the stick during last season’s playoffs losing 4-3 in a best-of-seven game to the Warriors.
The Kings will be looking to book their playoffs spot when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
