James, 39, also contributed nine rebounds, nine assists, and three steals to help the Lakers finish eighth in the Western Conference.

The Lakers will face the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, in the first round of the playoffs.

“We have a good bunch going right now,” James explained.

“We knew from the last game that they were going to give us everything they had, even the kitchen sink and toolbox, and they did.

“So it was a gritty victory for us, and we punched our way to the playoffs.”

James is scheduled to appear in the playoffs for the 17th time in his 21-year career.

Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94, ending their hopes of making the playoffs.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors in scoring with 22 points, while Klay Thompson, who has an average of 17.9 points per game this season, went scoreless in 32 minutes.

The Warriors have missed the playoffs three times in the last five seasons.

The Kings’ Keegan Murray nailed eight three-pointers and finished with 32 points and nine rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox contributed 24 points.

The Kings will face the Pelicans on Saturday, with the winner claiming the eighth seed and the final play-off position in the West.