The Dallas Mavericks celebrated an important victory in the fight for the last ticket for the play-in tournament and can still hope. The Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, simply can no longer win against their city rivals.
Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks clinched an important win against the Kings.
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A swatter 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. Due to the 118:125 on Wednesday evening (local time), the team around superstar LeBron James and national team captain Dennis Schröder missed out on a direct play-off spot.
The Clippers, on the other hand, like defending champions Golden State Warriors, have 42 wins and 38 defeats and with two games left in the main round, they have a good chance of going directly into the play-offs. The Lakers are seventh in the Western Conference and are at risk of going through the play-in tournament to qualify for the playoffs.
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, Russell Westbrook scored 14 points against his former team – the point guard ran in the first 52 games of the season in the Lakers jersey. In the end, LeBron James scored a worthless 33 points with the Lakers, Schröder only had one basket and two points in just 13 minutes on the pitch.
Dallas Mavericks keep hoping for the play-in tournament
The Mavericks around national player Maxi Kleber still have hopes for tenth place and participation in the play-in tournament thanks to the 119:123 victory against the Sacramento Kings. The team is level with the Oklahoma City Thunder (38 wins and 42 losses). The teams in places seven to ten determine two play-off participants in each of the two conferences.
The Texans’ top scorer was Kyrie Irving, who scored 19 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter. Luka Doncic played a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Dallas trailed by 13 points in the third quarter, but the Mavs made a comeback thanks to a strong second half from the two Superstars.
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 firmly in first place 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.
Third place for the Philadelphia 76ers behind the Boston Celtics in the east is also certain. The Sacramento Kings are securely third in the West after losing to the Mavs.
