LeBron pushes Lakers to playoffs, Grizzlies survive

Photo credit: Los Angeles Lakers/Twitter, Memphis Grizzlies/Twitter

The cardiac play-in match between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors definitely lived up to the hype. We experienced a major throwback after seeing LeBron James and Stephen Curry duke it out once more in the brightest stage of basketball. 

READ: King James vs. Chef Curry, let’s go! Lakers vs. Warriors is happening!

The winner of the match booked a guaranteed spot in the playoffs to face Chris Paul and the rest of the Phoenix Suns in the first round. 

After playing catch up for most of the first half, it was LeBron James and company who got their hands raised with a 103-100 victory. Sweet!

Photo credit: NBA/Twitter

After getting played by Draymond Green late in the fourth period, The King put on his cape and rescued the Lakers from the brink of defeat.

He shot an incredible 3-pointer right over Curry’s face with under a minute left to put the Lakers in the driver’s seat.

King James finished the game with a triple-double performance of 22 points 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, while shooting 7-of-17 from the floor. 

Chef Curry, on the other hand, was sizzling with a game-best of 37 points built on six made 3-pointers. However, he couldn’t lead the Dubs to a W and will take on the Memphis Grizzlies in a must-win game. 

The winning team will then clinch the 8th seed and face off against the Utah Jazz in the first round, while the losing team must pack up and go home. 

Speaking of the Grizzlies, they earned the right to stay alive in the play-in tourney with a 100-96 win over the San Antonio Spurs earlier in the day. 

Jonas Valunciunas was a man among boys, collecting 23 points and 23 rebounds, while Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant added 24 and 20 points, respectively. 

There’s only one ticket left in the West after the Lakers secured theirs. Which team do you think will join them in the final 8?