Western Conference Playoff Picture: Kings, Lakers Spurs, suffer defeats on the road while Clippers get key win

Yash Matange

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Western Conference Playoff Picture: Kings, Lakers Spurs, suffer defeats on the road while Clippers get key win image

There are still close to 20 games left but the result of every game for these teams only seems to make this race tighter. 

Here's a look at each of these result from Tuesday and how it impacted the standings.

San Antonio Spurs 85, Brooklyn Nets 101


 

In the finale of their annual Rodeo road trip, the Spurs lost by double-digits to the surging Brooklyn Nets.

This is the Spurs' seventh loss on the road trip that consisted of eight games over a 21-day span including the All-Star break. 

All-Star D'Angelo Russell was the leader in the Nets' victory, putting up an all-round stat line of 23 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds. Joe Harris (5-of-7 shooting) and Caris LeVert (7 assists, 5 rebounds) were the other key contributors for Brooklyn with 15 points apiece.

For the Spurs, LaMarcus Aldridge (26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) and DeMar DeRozan (23 points, 9-of-14 shooting) put up a fight but didn't receive a lot of support from the rest of the squad as nobody else scored more than 13 points.

As a team, the Nets shot 43.2% from the field and made 19 3-pointers on 38.0% shooting. They also committed 16 turnovers and San Antonio only committed 11 turnovers but the visitors' poor shooting didn't help their cause.

The Spurs shot 36.5% from the field and only knocked down 4 3-pointers on 24 attempts. 

The recent streak on this road trip has seen the Spurs slip from a comfortable fifth seed to now a tight eighth seed in the West.

The Spurs now head back to San Antonio for a three-game home stand starting on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons. 

Los Angeles Lakers 105, Memphis Grizzlies 110


 

After losing to an Anthony Davis-less Pelicans on Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers were keen on getting back to a .500 record with a win in Memphis. 

Unfortunately for the Lakers, a shorthanded Grizzlies squad came to play and dented their Playoff run. The Lakers has now lost four of their last five and have now slipped to 11th in the West standings as the Minnesota Timberwolves have overtaken them. 

LeBron James registered his 79th career triple-double , putting up 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists but he only shot 34.8% from the field (8-of-23).The Kings also climbed to within the Top 10 career assists leaderboard, becoming the only player to feature in the top 10 of the all-time points and assists leaderboad.


 

Lakers' young players Kyle Kuzma (22 points, 9-of-15 shooting) and Brandon Ingram (32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 12-of-18 shooting) combined for 54 points but it was simply not enough as the Lakers only received seven points from their bench. 

On the other hand, the Grizzlies were led by efficient performances by Mike Conley (30 points, 5 assists, 10-of-17 shooting) and Jonas Valanciunas (20 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, 8-of-15 shooting).

The Lakers shot better than the Grizzlies from the field and from beyond the arc but the hosts just managed to make field goals. 

The LA franchise next head home for a couple of games, beginning on Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies next host the Bulls on Thursday.

Sacramento Kings 105, Minnesota Timberwolves 112


 

In his return from concussion protocol, All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns led the Minnesota Timberwolves to their fourth win in the last five games. He received plenty of support from his starting guards in Derrick Rose and Tyus Jones, who combined for 36 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.

In a high turnovers game (42 - 22 by the Wolves and 20 by the Kings), the Minnesota franchise superior shooting from the field (50.6%) won the game as the Kings only made 38.9% of their attempts from the field. 

Rookie Marvin Bagley top-scored for the Kings with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting while sophomore De'Aaron Fox put up 23. 

With the Lakers' recent losses (4 in last 5), the Timberwolves have not only overtaken the Lakers in the West standings but also cut the deficit to the Sacramento Kings by handing them their a loss. Fortunately for the Kings, who have lost their last three of their last four on a road trip, with the Lakers recent form, the Sacramento franchise remains in the hunt for a Playoff spot as the ninth seed. 

While the Timberwolves now begin a three-game East Conference road trip on Thursday in Atlanta, the Kings begin a four-game homestand by hosting the league-best Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

Dallas Mavericks 112, LA Clippers 121


 

Forward Montrezl Harrell received a lot of support from reserve guard Lou Williams, who recorded a double-double of 21 points and 10 assists to go along with his 3 rebounds and 3 steals. 

Luka Doncic returned to the Mavericks' line-up after a two games and striaght away recorded yet another triple-double, the fourth of his career. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough against the hosts to snap the Mavs current five-game skid. 


 

This is the Clippers fourth win in seven games since the Tobias Harris trade and with the recent slumps of the teams around them, the LA franchise has actually jumped to a spot to 7th in the West. 

The Mavericks now travel home to host the Indiana Pacers while the Clippers tip-off a short road trip in Utah. 

Current NBA standings

Yash Matange

Yash Matange Photo