Many time winners the Los Angeles Lakers have cemented a place in the first round of the NBA playoffs, where they will meet defending champions Denver Nuggets in a repeat of last year’s Western Conference finals.

The meeting was set in stone after the Lakers withstood a late rally by New Orleans to come away with a hard-fought 110-106 win in the play-in game against the Pelicans to secure the number 7 seed on the Western conference standings.

Leading the way for the Lakers were four-time MVP LeBron James with 23 points, 9 assists and 9 rebounds and Anthony Davis who tallied 20 points and 15 rebounds. They were aided by De’Angelo Russell who scored 21, hitting five times from deep.

The Lakers now advance to face the Nuggets in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals, game one is scheduled for this Saturday.

Zion Williamson, in the meantime, had a game-high 40 points and 11 rebounds before exiting with just over 3 minutes remaining due to injury in his postseason debut for the Pelicans who will now face the Sacramento Kings for the 8th and final seed.

The Kings cemented their place after running out 118-94 winners over Golden State led by Keegan Murray who compiled 32 points and 9 rebounds. 

The winner of the Kings vs Pelicans contest on Friday will move on to face the number one seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs.