In a dramatic play-in game, the Los Angeles Lakers got their ticket to the NBA playoffs on Wednesday by defeating the Golden State Warriors, who will have one last chance to qualify against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies will be able to compete for the ticket after beating the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, who were eliminated for the second consecutive season, something they had never suffered in their 45 years as an NBA franchise.
The Lakers, who wanted to avoid making the playoff at all costs, breathed a sigh of relief as they got a ticket to the first round and will begin their 2020 title defense against the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
LeBron James, with a triple-double and a decisive triple, led the 103-100 victory against Stephen Curry’s Warriors (37 points and 6 triples), who were ahead on the scoreboard for most of the game.
The Warriors’ fierce defense wreaked havoc on the Los Angeles offense in the first half, as James (6 points), Anthony Davis (5) and Germany’s Dennis Schröder (2) combined a terrifying 4/28 shooting stat. field (14.3%).
On the way back from the locker room, LeBron James took the controls to command the Lakers’ reaction.
The Los Angeles team took the lead for the first time all night (81-79) at the beginning of the fourth quarter but, with an unstoppable Curry, the Warriors again took the lead with three minutes remaining.
With the water up to his neck, LeBron James was the target of a hard foul by Draymond Green when he attempted a dunk and the Warriors player hit him with his hands in the face.
The Lakers forward struck back by nailing the decisive 3-pointer with 58 seconds remaining. Very far from the line of three, and with Curry in front, James had to throw in the last second of possession and his success put the Lakers ahead 103-100.
“After Draymond’s finger hit my eye, I was literally seeing three rings. So I threw the middle one, “LeBron said of his triple.
The Warriors lost the ball on the last possession and Curry couldn’t even attempt one of his miraculous 3s to tie.
“It was tough because I wasn’t expecting him to come in,” Curry said of LeBron’s 3-pointer. “I was hoping we would have the rebound and possession to take the lead, but everything changed (…) Great players make great shots.”
The two superstars, who embraced late in the game, have met in four NBA Finals, with three wins for Curry’s Warriors and one for LeBron’s Cavaliers.
Curry, who this season has been the NBA’s leading scorer at 33, tried to cheer on his teammates ahead of Friday’s crucial game on his court against the Grizzlies.
“It is the most important game of the year,” he stressed. “It will be good to play at home in front of our fans. Now we are a good team, we know how to compete ». (AFP) (GG)