This season has been almost as competitive in the West, arguably the hottest playoff and play-off spot in history. Teams like the Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, Pelicans, Timberwolves and others want a straight playoff spot or a good spot in the playoffs. As the season enters the final stage, we have to admire the league's arrangement of the entire season.
The Lakers and Clippers, two Los Angeles teams, have a chance to become a direct playoff team, and today the two teams ushered in a head-to-head showdown, Wei Shao faced the old owner, the Clippers faced the Lakers 10 consecutive wins, plus the Pelicans' win today, this game is not only a topical game, but can even determine the outcome of the entire season for both teams.
The Clippers took the initiative as soon as the game came up, and the three-point shoots of Wilson and Gordon helped the Clippers build their lead, and the Clippers led by six points in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Powell helped the Clippers widen the gap to double digits, and the play of Wilson and Leonard helped the Clippers take a 19-point advantage by the end of the first half.
Swapping venues, James hit three consecutive points, led the Lakers to continue to eat away at the point difference, once the point difference narrowed to single digits, Lu coached a continuous call to stop, the Clippers stabilized the situation, coupled with Powell's consecutive points, the Clippers still had a double-digit advantage at the end of the third quarter. James continued to play in the final quarter, but Highland's three-point streak still gave the Clippers a 20-point advantage, and in the last 5 minutes, the Lakers once set off an effective counterattack, but there was too little time, the point difference was too big, and finally the Clippers won the game 125-118.
After winning this game, the Clippers took the initiative in the competition for the Western Conference direct playoffs, they had the advantage in the mutual record with the Warriors and Lakers, and in the next two games, they first faced the Blazers, then faced the Suns, as long as they won the game against the Blazers, they even had the opportunity to pick their own first-round opponent in the playoffs.
On the Clippers' side today, Wei Shao played well in the first half and shot well, but after entering the third quarter, the situation on the court was very chaotic, Wei Shao also made consecutive mistakes, Lu coached to replace him in time, and then Wei Shao did not get any chances. But I have to say that the current Wei Shao mentality is very peaceful, for his own playing time and order, do not care, the team can win to make themselves satisfied, the whole game Wei Shao 12 6, got 114 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists data.
In terms of the main players of the Clippers, Zubac and Leonard have contributed above the level today, and the key to the team's victory is Powell's impact and aggression on the bench, as well as Highland's projection. Powell continued to attack the Lakers inside today with the limited playing time of Wilson, and his foul and basket finish were the key to the Clippers' failure to collapse in the third and fourth quarters. Hyland shot 3-of-6 from three-point range today and got 14 points and four assists, and although he still looks a little frizzy on the court, he can really give it in key moments.
After the Lakers' loss today, they completely lost the initiative in the fight for playoff spots, trailing the Warriors and Clippers in front of them by 1 win, and if they want to enter the playoffs directly, the two games with the Suns and Jazz need to win at the same time, and they also have to hope that the Warriors and Clippers make mistakes, but at a critical moment such as the end of the season, it is not easy to make mistakes on the team where these two core players are there. And the Lakers' two rivals have the Blazers' soft persimmon in the last two games.
Today's game The Lakers really played too badly in the first half, the disadvantage of 19 points can illustrate this problem, James is not in good shape in the first half today, only 3 points scored in the entire first half, but after entering the second half, he woke up in time, blossomed inside and outside, and cut 30 points in the second half, but unfortunately because the pit dug in front was too big, unable to return to the sky. James showed his impact today, and punished the opponent for emptying several three-pointers for the Clippers, shooting 13 of 20 and 4 of 6 three-pointers, scoring 33 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
Thick eyebrows look a little excited today, his aggressiveness does not seem to be enough, only 14 shots in the game, hit 7 shots, 17 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Facing Zubac and Plumlee today, the thick eyebrows have been shackled on the inside, and the team's offensive focus does not seem to be on him, he can complete his tasks on the defensive end, and the offensive end has also contributed.
Lakers starters, Russell, Reeves, Vanderbilt and others today can be regarded as satisfactory, but the bench players do not have the same performance as Highland, Powell, Mann on the Clippers, Brown, Hachimura, Schroder and others are in a relatively sluggish state today.
After losing this game, in addition to losing the initiative to go straight to the playoffs, the Lakers' own position is more dangerous, the Pelicans behind them have caught up, the record is equal to them, the Timberwolves are also watching behind, and the Timberwolves have a mutual record advantage against the Lakers this season. However, because the Pelicans and Timberwolves have direct head-to-head matches in the next two games, even if the Lakers fall into the play-offs, the top half of the playoffs, that is, the 7th and 8th positions, is relatively safe.
In general, after this Los Angeles derby, the Clippers have stood out, although the Lakers need to see the faces of others, but fortunately fate is still in their hands, the next two games, try their best to win, there is still a chance, even if they fall into the play-offs, there is a certain margin for error.