The Los Angeles Lakers endured one other blow to their playoff hopes Monday, falling 118-106 to the Orlando Magic, who secured their first dwelling win since February.
Despite stellar performances from Luka Doncic, who poured in 32 factors, and LeBron James, who added 24, the Lakers suffered their third consecutive loss. With a 43-28 file, they’re now tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for fourth place within the Western Conference.
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 32 factors, whereas Paolo Banchero contributed 30. Orlando dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 34-18 to take management of the sport.
This setback follows a heavy defeat to the Chicago Bulls, who handed the Lakers a blowout loss in James’s first recreation again after lacking seven video games with a groin damage.
Meanwhile, the Bulls continued their spectacular run, defeating a depleted Denver Nuggets staff 129-119 for his or her third consecutive victory.
The Lakers had hoped James, Doncic, and a newly wholesome Rui Hachimura would gas a powerful stretch run. The Oklahoma City Thunder are assured of the highest seed within the West, however the Nuggets, Lakers, and Grizzlies are all inside two and a half video games of the second-place Houston Rockets.
Doncic mentioned the Lakers have to recapture the depth they displayed throughout an eight-game profitable streak that had briefly pushed them to second within the West.
“We were physical. We played hell of a defense,” Doncic mentioned. “And I think we just got a little bit satisfied. We can’t afford that right now.”
The Lakers led by 9 within the first half and lower a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to seven with 5:39 remaining, however the Magic – eighth within the Eastern Conference – shortly pulled away once more.
The Nuggets had been nonetheless clinging to 3rd within the West after falling to the Bulls, who had been fueled by 37 factors from Coby White – his third straight recreation with 35 or extra.
Josh Giddey added 26 factors, eight rebounds, and 9 assists, and 6 Chicago gamers scored in double figures because the Bulls, ninth within the East, rallied from an early 13-point deficit.
The Nuggets led by 4 early within the fourth quarter, however with NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić once more sidelined with an ankle damage and Aaron Gordon absent, they could not cease the Bulls’ late surge.
Tatum harm in Celtics win
The defending champion Boston Celtics cruised to a sixth straight victory, however their 113-95 win over the Kings in Sacramento was marred by an damage to All-Star Jayson Tatum.
Tatum scored 25 factors with seven rebounds and eight assists earlier than departing within the third quarter after rolling his ankle when he got here down from a shot on the foot of Kings middle Domantas Sabonis, who was assessed a flagrant foul.
Tatum stayed within the recreation lengthy sufficient to take his free throws earlier than he was helped to the locker room.
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton posted his eleventh straight double-double, delivering 24 factors and 11 assists to propel the Pacers to a fifth straight victory, 119-103 over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Obi Toppin made six three-pointers on the way in which to twenty factors for the Pacers, whose lead over Milwaukee for fourth place within the East stood at two video games after the Bucks fell 108-106 to the Suns in Phoenix.
Devin Booker was the hero for the Suns, drilling a step-back basket with 2.4 seconds remaining to seal the win in a recreation that featured 15 lead adjustments, six of them within the fourth quarter.
Kevin Durant led all scorers with 38 factors for Phoenix, whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 31.
The Dallas Mavericks welcomed Anthony Davis again to motion with a victory, beating the Nets 120-101 in Brooklyn.
Davis returned after lacking six weeks with an adductor damage – suffered in his first recreation for the Mavs after the gorgeous commerce that introduced him from the Lakers in change for Doncic.
Davis scored 12 factors on six-of-nine capturing in 26 minutes on the ground and mentioned afterward he “felt great” bodily and overcame any psychological jitters “in the first minute or so.”
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