Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business on Tuesday night. They needed a win over the New Orleans Pelicans to secure the No. 7 seed in the West, and that’s exactly what they produced.

LeBron James and Co. have now set up a date with the No. 2 seed and defending champs Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Playoffs — a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals that saw the Nuggets trounce the Lakers 4-0 in a clean sweep.

Los Angeles Lakers News: LeBron James Shares Initial Thoughts on Nuggets Matchup

LeBron balled out yet again on Tuesday, logging a team-high 23 points, to go along with nine rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and two blocks in 41 minutes of action. After securing a hardly-contested 110-106 victory over the Pelicans, James was asked by reporters to share his thoughts on the upcoming first-round series against the Nuggets.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer had nothing but high praise for Nikola Jokic and his crew:

You can be sure that LeBron and the Lakers have not forgotten about how the Nuggets humiliated them in the West Finals last season. That’s an unwanted memory that continues to linger in their minds — whether they choose to admit it or not. Surely, it is one that will fuel LA’s desire to get some much-needed revenge against a powerhouse Denver side.

This could very well be the best first-round series we’re going to get this year.

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