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NEW ORLEANS -- The Los Angeles Lakers' prize for beating the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 in the play-in tournament to secure the No. 7 seed is a first-round matchup with the No. 2 seed defending champion Denver Nuggets.
L.A. won 12 out of its last 15 games to make it happen, sealing its fate in a rematch against last year's Western Conference finals opponent that swept the Lakers out of the playoffs and has won eight straight overall against the purple and gold.
A loss in New Orleans would have set up a do-or-die game Friday, hosting the Sacramento Kings, with the winner earning the No.