The Los Angeles Lakers have clinched a playoff spot but they still have plenty to play for with two games remaining in the regular season.
Los Angeles can move closer to grabbing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference when it hosts the second-place Houston Rockets on Friday night.
The Lakers (49-31) officially punched their playoff ticket with Wednesday’s 112-97 road victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Los Angeles is part of a tightly bunched group in the West as five teams chasing Los Angeles have between 46 and 48 victories entering Thursday’s play.
The closest teams in proximity are the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, both possessing 48-32 records.
“It’s an accomplishment, truthfully it is, if you look at the Western Conference this year,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of clinching a playoff spot. “We want the third seed and we have two more cracks to guarantee that spot.”
The Lakers have won six of their past nine games entering the closing games. Los Angeles closes the regular season on Sunday at the Portland Trail Blazers.
Houston (52-28) has nothing to play for after previously clinching the No. 2 seed in the West.
The Rockets held out nearly all their key cogs in Wednesday’s 134-117 loss to the host Los Angeles Clippers.
Alperen Sengun (back soreness), Jabari Smith Jr. (left groin soreness), Fred VanVleet (right ankle soreness) sat out with injuries and Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson were held out for rest. Veteran Steven Adams also didn’t play.
Jalen Green played 15 minutes in the contest and he will see some action Friday as he seeks to play all 82 regular-season games for the second straight season. He would be the first Houston player to do so since Luis Scola, who played them all in three consecutive campaigns (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10).
Rookie Reed Sheppard stepped into the starting lineup against the Clippers and made a career-best six 3-pointers while scoring 20 points.
The 20-year-old Sheppard appreciated his teammates being excited with his success.
“They’ve done it all year,” Sheppard said. “Anytime the bench guys get in and make shots, they’re always up and cheering on. It’s really cool and playing and just looking over and seeing all the starters and whoever’s sitting out being over there and cheering and stuff.”
Rockets coach Ime Udoka found something he didn’t like about the second-stringers — their defense.
Houston gave up 34 or more points in three of the four quarters and allowed the Clippers to make 19 of 37 3-point attempts.
“They were on pace for 140,” Udoka said of the Clippers. “At least we only gave up 134.”
The Rockets and Lakers split two games earlier this season. Led by Green’s 33 points, Houston posted a 119-115 home win on Jan. 5 before Los Angeles had Luka Doncic on the roster.
In the rematch on March 31, Doncic was one of three Lakers to score 20 points as Los Angeles recorded a 104-98 victory. Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent each had 20 points and six treys in the contest.
Doncic is coming off a 45-point effort – matching a season best – in his first visit to Dallas since the stunning trade in February.
Doncic received a video tribute and was cheered wildly by Dallas fans who are still irate that the franchise traded him to Los Angeles.
Doncic was highly emotional before the game but settled in and made 7 of 10 3-pointers while also contributing eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.
I’m happy it’s over,” Doncic said. “Now I can get some sleep. But it was an amazing experience, the way the fans accepted me, cheered for me. It was just unbelievable. I had a great time.”
