A bankruptcy in the city duel with the Los Angeles Clippers stopped the Los Angeles Lakers’ winning streak in the NBA and put a sensitive damper on the record champions.
With the 118:125 on Wednesday evening (April 5th, 2023/local time), the Los Angeles Lakers around superstar LeBron James and Dennis Schröder missed the jump to a direct playoff spot in the North American professional basketball league.
The Clippers, on the other hand, like defending champions Golden State Warriors, now have 42 wins and 38 losses and with two games left in the main round, they have a good chance of making the playoffs without the additional games in the play-inn.
Bucks and nuggets solidify their places
It was the Clippers’ eleventh win in a row against the Lakers. With 27 points, Norman Powell was the best pitcher for the winning team, while LeBron James ended up scoring a worthless 33 points with the Lakers. Schröder managed just one goal and two points in just 13 minutes on the pitch.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, have secured home field advantage in the playoffs. The Bucks beat the Toronto Raptors 97-93 and are first in the Eastern Conference. The Nuggets benefited from the Memphis Grizzlies’ 131-138 loss at the New Orleans Pelicans and can no longer be ousted from first place in the West. The Pelicans are now level with the Lakers.
More hope for the Mavericks
Third place for the Philadelphia 76ers behind the Boston Celtics in the east is also certain. The Sacramento Kings are safely third in the west after beating the Dallas Mavericks 119:123.
The Mavericks around national player Maxi Kleber still have hopes of tenth place and participation in the Play-Inn thanks to the win. The team is level with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The teams in places seven to ten determine two playoff participants in each of the two conferences.