| |
|
NBA - Lakers close in on playoffs berth
By Mohan Labra Ramchandani PhilBoxing.com Tue, 16 Apr 2013

LOS ANGELES -- The L.A. Lakers are one game away from capturing the 8th and final playoffs berth in the Western Conference. The Lakers reached this point by narrowly edging the San Antonio Spurs, 91-86, Sunday night at the Staples Center.
The Lakers played without Kobe Bryant, who was lost for the season after blowing his Achilles Friday night against the Golden State Warriors. But center Dwight Howard carried Los Angeles on his shoulders with 26 points and 17 rebounds. Howard also made eight of 17 free throws.
Steve Blake also came up huge for the Lakers by finishing with 23 points, five rebounds and four assists. Blake, who started in place of the injured Steve Nash (right hamstring injury) sizzled from 3-point range, making four of eight attempts. Pau Gasol struggled mightily, missing 14 of 17 field goals for seven points and 16 rebounds.
San Antonio was held to just 33 of 89 field goals (37.1 percent) and got 23 points and 10 rebounds from center Tim Duncan. Danny Green pumped 16 and Gary Neal had 12. Tiago Splitter added 11 points and 10 boards.
The Lakers can enter the playoffs outright by beating the Houston Rockets Wednesday night at the Staples Center. (MR)
Photo: Dwight Howard after his 26-point 17-rebound output. (PhilBoxing photo by Mohan Labra Ramchandani).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mohan Labra Ramchandani.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
What's Three Pounds? The Collazo-Vayson Affair (Part II) By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 14 Aug 2025Don King Productions Announces October 4th Showdown Featuring No. 1 WBA Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Facing World Champion Kubrat Pulev , Thu, 14 Aug 2025Jayson Vayson Ready to Battle Oscar Collazo for WBO/WBA World Titles (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 14 Aug 2025Arab American boxing pride to be on display August 31st in Detroit , Thu, 14 Aug 2025What's Three Pounds? The Collazo-Vayson Affair By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Requinto to fight against an Indian in Davao on Aug. 31 By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025NU's Yana Emilou De Vera dominates U1700 Asian Amateur Chess Championships in Hongkong By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Llover to defend OPBF title against former world champ By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Cebuano Elmo Traya in Action in Brico Santig’s Aug 30 Show on DAZN By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Jacamos is new PH Youth champ By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 13 Aug 2025FECOMBOX Unifies Boxing Commissions, Vows to Enhance Safety and Standards By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 13 Aug 202512-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas , Wed, 13 Aug 2025Maurice H. Goldner: Letting the Filipino Fist Speak for Itself By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025WBC Boxing Grand Prix Quarterfinals Set for Riyadh: 32 Fighters Vie for Glory By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Awesome! Jayson Vayson In Fight of his Life Against Oscar Collazo for Unified WBO/WBA Minimumweight Titles Sep 20 on DAZN (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Midgley Stops Apisit, Claims WBF Australasian Belt By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025FM Ivan Travis Cu takes first in Blitz at the 9th Eastern Youth Chess Championship By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025WBA, WBO AND RING MAGAZINE MINIMUMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR “EL PUPILO” COLLAZO TO DEFEND TITLES AGAINST JAYSON “STRIKER” VAYSON , Tue, 12 Aug 2025‘BOOTS’ ENNIS LANDS WBA SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT FINAL ELIMINATOR AGAINST LIMA IN PHILADELPHIA ON OCT 11 LIVE ON DAZN , Tue, 12 Aug 2025PERO CLASHES WITH THOMPSON IN ORLANDO ON NOV 1 AS HOMETOWN HERO JONES RETURNS LIVE ON DAZN , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Tristan Jared Cervero wins Philippine Xiangqi tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Team España rules 2025 DC Athletics Open By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025Cordero, Sta Brigada top DC Shotgun Challenge By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 12 Aug 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 10 AUGUST 2025 By Eric Armit, , Mon, 11 Aug 2025Abelgas finishes second in Asian Amateur Chess Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 11 Aug 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|