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NBA -- Out of playoffs race, Lakers have with Wiz
By Taylor Cutsaw
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 28 Mar 2019
LOS ANGELES -- At 11th place in the Western Conference with a 33-42 card, the Los Angeles Lakers have already been eliminated from playoffs contention, marking the sixth consecutive year that the purple-and-gold franchise is out of the postseason.
But that hasn't dampened their spirit to play as though large things remain at stake while having some old-fashioned fun on the side.
Led by a smoking-hot Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who drilled a team-high 29 points, the Lakers destroyed the visiting Washington Wizards, 124-106, on Wednesday night at Staples Center. LeBron James, who won't be making an NBA Finals appearance for the first time in nine years, played for 34 minutes and finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and 14 assists.
JaVale McGee was just as engaged, lifting Los Angeles with a 20-point, 15-rebound effort. Kyle Kuzma added 15 points while Lance Stephenson stole the limelight with a killer cross-over that staggered Wizard Jeff Green, drawing applause from the crowd while generating laughs from an enthused Lakers bench.
The moment was welcome comic relief for a Lakers quintet that had endured so much injury of the course of this disappointing. Against the Wizards, the Lakers played without injured cogs Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Reggie Bullock. Previously, James had missed 17 games with a groin injury while Rajon Rondo also missed an extended period of time due to thumb surgery.
Bradley Beal had 32 points for Washington, which shot 39 of 90 from the field (43.3 percent) and 6-of-32 from long distance (18.8 percent).
The Wizards have had their share of woes as well, most damning of which is the loss of John Wall for the remainder of the season with an Achilles heel. They're also out of the playoffs picture with a 31-45 record.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Taylor Cutsaw.
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