Have the Los Angeles Lakers been eliminated from the 2023 NBA playoffs?
The Los Angeles Lakers went up against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston on Wednesday night. It was the home side that ended up on top as the Rockets won the game 114-110, courtesy of heroics from Kevin Porter Jr and Jabari Smith Jr while Austin Reaves’ efforts to win the game for the away side ended in vain.
The “new look” Lakers have turned their fortunes around since an eventful February window where they raked in D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Rui Hachimura and Mo Bamba – a turnaround in form that has seen them emerge as one of the outside contenders to finish in a play-off spot. However, their latest loss has seen plenty of speculation about whether the Lakers will indeed go to the post-season.
The Lakers – who are currently without LeBron James or Anthony Davis, both of who are facing an extended period on the sidelines courtesy of injury – were short-handed as they went up against one of the struggling sides in the Western Conference. However, despite their loss, the Lakers at 34-36 still have an outside chance of qualifying for the post-season from the West.
What did coach Darvin Ham have to say about the Lakers loss?
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham applauded their opponents on the night and said that their drive ended up impacting the result more than the Lakers’ did.
“Houston – young team – and regardless of what their record is, they came to play,” coach Darvin Ham said. “And we felt them. They made us feel them in terms of them attacking the paint, them getting hits… (and) we should have been the ones playing with that type of edge.”
Though the Lakers are still missing LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Reaves had 24 points off the bench and D’Angelo Russell added 18 as the Lakers lost for the second time in three games, as they fight to stay in line for one of the last playoff spots in the Western Conference.
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