The 37-year-old scored 38 points in the 131:120 against the Cleveland Cavaliers and also had eleven rebounds and twelve assists. The win against his native Ohio team climbed the Lakers back to ninth place in the Western Conference and past the New Orleans Pelicans, who lost 103-106 to the Charlotte Hornets. The teams in places seven through ten play the last two playoff tickets.
The top six teams in each of the Eastern and Western Conferences qualify directly for the playoffs. The hard-fought victory of the Dallas Mavericks around national basketball player Maxi Kleber against the recently successful Minnestoa Timberwolves was therefore extremely important. Dallas defended fifth place with a 110:108, the Timberwolves slipped to seventh place behind the Denver Nuggets.
In the top game of the day, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Miami Heat 113-106. The Heat are at the top of the Eastern Conference, and the win now puts the 76ers level with the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics won their away game at the Oklahoma City Thunder 132:123, Daniel Theis contributed nine points. The Bucks were not active on Monday. The Chicago Bulls beat the Toronto Raptors 113-99 to move past the Cavaliers for fifth place.
Led by Kevin Durant with his 37 points, the Brooklyn Nets clinched an important 114-106 against the Utah Jazz and still have a place in the top six.
The Houston Rockets, on the other hand, theoretically have no chance of qualifying for the playoffs. The worst team in the league won 115:97 against the Washington Wizards, national player Dennis Schröder scored eight points and also had five assists and four rebounds.
Source: dpa