On Friday (local time), the San Antonio Spurs took the next step towards the play-in qualification for the play-off in the NBA.
In the sovereign 130:111 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Jakob Pöltl recorded 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and one block. The 26-year-old center from Vienna was in action for 23:01 minutes. The Texans laid the foundation for victory before the break.
After a 43:20 in the second quarter, they were up 77:49 at halftime. “We created a big lead in the first half, attacked aggressively and got a great contribution from the players on the bench (contributed 52 points, note),” said Pöltl. In the absence of top scorer Dejounte Murray, Spurs’ top pitchers were Devin Vassell (22) and Keldon Johnson (21), who consolidated tenth place and meet Portland again on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, have suffered the next setback. They had to admit defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans in a direct duel for a place in the play-in with 111:114. Even 36 points from LeBron James could not prevent the star ensemble from going bankrupt again.
With five games left each, the Pelicans hold in ninth with 34-43 wins. San Antonio follows at 32:45 ahead of the Lakers at 31:46. In the case of the same record after 82 games of the season, the Spurs have the edge in a direct comparison with both teams. The teams ranked seventh through tenth at the two NBA conferences qualify for the play-in.
In the top duel of the day, the Memphis Grizzlies celebrated their seventh win in a row with 122:114 against the Phoenix Suns. The NBA leader from Arizona had to admit defeat for the first time after the last nine successes. Defending champion Milwaukee Bucks lost his stars against the LA Clippers 119-153. Robert Covington scored 43 points for the winners, recording 11 shots from distance.
There was no good news from the Golden State Warriors camp on Friday. Superstar Stephen Curry will be absent from the team for the remainder of the regular season. The 34-year-old suffered a ligament injury in his left foot in the game against the Boston Celtics in mid-March and has since missed seven games, of which the Warriors have only won one. Curry, who has led Golden State to three championship titles so far, is scheduled to resume individual on-court training next week. The Warriors then plan to provide an update on his fitness status a day after the regular season ends on April 10. His team is currently one win away to ensure direct qualification for the play-offs that begin on April 16.
