The Los Angeles Lakers are facing the significant threat of being forced to compete in the NBA play-in tournament after losing to the LA Clippers 125-118.
The Clippers are in a tie with Golden State for fifth in the West at 42-38, with the Lakers now 41-39 and in seventh. The Lakers entered the game having won four in a row and seven of eight, but couldn’t overturn a remarkable losing streak to their LA rivals – that now stands at a remarkable 11 straight. The loss leaves the Lakers outside the top six automatic playoff spots with two regular-season games remaining.
The Lakers have already clinched at least a place in the play-in but need to win out and hope the Warriors or Clippers slip up from here to earn a place in the play-offs directly.
LeBron James had 33 points on 13-of-20 shooting including four of six from beyond the arc. He also tallied eight rebounds and seven assists to go with six turnovers.
The Clippers set the tone early on, jumping out to a 15-3 first-quarter lead in the opening minutes.
The Lakers rallied to lead by one briefly in the opening period before the Clippers reasserted themselves to pull clear, at one stage opening up a 24-point lead in the third quarter.
Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and seven rebounds in a huge 43-minute effort for the Clippers, who were led by Norman Powell’s 27 points off the bench. Paul George was a big absentee through injury, but Russell Westbrook added 14 points in his first meeting with his former Lakers teammates.
Austin Reaves added 20 points for the Lakers and Anthony Davis 17 points plus 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks brushed off the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to defeat the Chicago Bulls 105-92 and clinch top seeding throughout the NBA playoffs on Thursday (AEST).
Bobby Portis scored 27 points, including six three-pointers, while Brook Lopez added 26 points, as the Bucks bagged their 58th win of the season to seal top spot in the Eastern Conference.
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The win means Milwaukee will have home court advantage through the playoffs as owners of the best record in the league this season.
With Antetokounmpo rested, Milwaukee demonstrated their strength in depth with a balanced offensive display.
Point guard Jrue Holiday took on the playmaking responsibilities, with 15 assists and eight rebounds in addition to a 20-point haul, while Jevon Carter added 16 points.
Milwaukee’s offence turned the game around in the third quarter, transforming a 61-51 deficit with a 15-0 run that put the Bucks into a 66-61 lead.
The only blemish on the evening for Mike Budenholzer’s side was an injury scare to Khris Middleton, who departed after less than nine minutes on court with a knee problem.
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Wednesday’s victory, however, means the Bucks can rest their front line players through the final two games of the regular season, which wraps up on Sunday before the playoffs get under way on April 15.
“Obviously, over an 82-game season there’s going to be highs and lows, there’s going to be times when you struggle and times when you’re hot,” Portis said after the win.
“But staying together, building our habits on a daily basis, building our chemistry has been key, and hopefully we can take that into the postseason,” he added.
The identity of Milwaukee’s first round opponents in the playoffs will not be determined until the completion of next week’s play-in tournament.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics clinched second seeding in the Eastern Conference with a 97-93 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Malcolm Brogdon led the scoring for the Celtics with 29 points, while Jaylen Brown added 25.
Boston’s victory ensured that the Philadelphia 76ers will finish third in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers are poised to face the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the postseason. The Nets all but guaranteed sixth place with a 123-108 win over Detroit on Wednesday.
The New York Knicks also enjoyed a big win over the Indiana Pacers by achieving an epic 44-year first in the victory.
For the first time since 1979, the Knicks had three stars chalk up 30 points or more in the one game as they marched to a fifth straight victory.
FULL RESULTS
Pacers 129-138 Knicks
Pistons 108-123 Nets
Hawks 134-116 Wizards
Bucks 105-92 Bulls
Celtics 97-93 Raptors
Pelicans 138-131 Grizzlies
Mavericks 123-119 Kings
Clippers 125-118 Lakers