Lakers-Nuggets playoff series: Where to watch

NBA playoffs preview with Jovan Buha

The Athletic's Jovan Buha gives an NBA playoff preview for the Clippers and Lakers on FOX 11's Sports Wrap.

LOS ANGELES - As expected, the Lake Show is headed to primetime.

(Getty Images)

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the official playoffs after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 in the play-in tournament.

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"Tonight we showcased what we were able to do both offensively and defensively," LeBron James told reporters after the game., The Lakers enter the playoffs having won 12 of 15 games. "We’ve got a good group going right now, good rotation, good plan and guys are coming in ready to go."

The league changed its postseason format in 2021 after the NBA Board of Governors approved it in Nov. 2020. The top six-seeded teams in each conference automatically advance to the playoffs, while teams ranked 7-10 must earn their way to the playoffs in the play-in tournament.

Last season, the Lakers punched their ticket to the playoffs after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in a play-in game and made it to the Western Conference Finals.

The stage is now set, and the Lakers face the Denver Nuggets, the reigning champions, in the first-round series.