En the ‘distance race’ of the 82 games that make up the NBA, the Western Conference live a wild finish to the sprint. Last cards on the table and last teams that speed up their options to access the post-season. Whitewater territory, in which the Los Angeles Lakers have moved like nobody else. Since the end of the transfer window they have been a new team, which wins, convinces… and 77 games later it has a positive record.
No one had ever accessed Playoffs after a 2-10 start in a regular season. That was the first major determining factor for a team that changed, obviously. In another time, losing 12 points midway through the third quarter (70-58, 30′) would be a practically insurmountable wall. That a spectacular Anthony Davis (38 points and 17 rebounds) come in and that shows that when he is healthy he has no equal, and a good LeBron (18+10) to open the final lead with two penetrations and good ball movement, not only did they come back, but they saved with flying colors (111-123).
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Davis’ recital against the Wolves
The Warriors do not fail
Davis’ recital serves so that with 38-37 they have the first positive record of the regular season. They are seventh, so it is obvious that they will play in the Playoffs, and they are even looking at that sixth position that the Warriors grab. In the Bay the face changes. In terms of spirit, Andrew Wiggins has returned to the area and a return is not ruled out, and on the field they are a team that nobody wants to find in the Playoffs.
To the San Antonio Spurs (130-115) beat them with the recipe for the last ring. Stephen Curry went to 33 points -7 triples- in a spectacular shooting card of 11/21 in shots, Klay Thompson supported with 25 -5 triples- and Jordan Poole appeared as another fundamental sword with 27 -6 triples-. The 41-37 puts them in a perfect situation, with two victories ahead of the Play-In and tied for the final stretch with some Clippers who fell in Memphis. Just in time, the magic of the champion.
The usual Warriors: Curry’s magical assist and Thompson’s great triple
A position between Thunder and Mavs?
The victories of the Warriors and Lakers, the last of the Pelicans against the Nuggets and the defeat of Minnesota with the gold and purple, precisely, leaves a panorama in which it seems that the last place in the Play-In -10th- will be a duel between Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs (37-40) are separated by two wins from the Wolves, so their fight is against OKC (38-40) who “shot themselves in the foot” in Indiana (121-117).
A bright TJ McConnell (21+9+8) brought out the colors at the worst moment for the Thunder. Off in defense, 72 points conceded under the boards and with a brilliant final ‘rush’ from the former Sixers in the final three minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had ball to tie, but could not get up before Mathurin. The Thunder, thus, only have one victory with the Mavs.
Doncic, therefore, will have his last bullet. He will start on the field of some Miami Heat to whom the regular season is uphill, and they will have to add to get into that last wagon of the Playoffs. Ahead, Minnesota plays the already eliminated Blazers, so 10th seems like the realistic goal. The last sprint of the great sprint of the West.