Lakers Finally Win Back to Back

(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

By Kevin R. Linares

The Los Angeles Lakers have managed to do something they have not been able to do all season, that is to win back to back games. It could not have come at a better time with the season ending and the battle for the last western conference playoff spot becoming tighter and tighter.The Lakers beat the Portland Trailblazers in another close game ending at 113 to 106.

The Rose Garden was filled with MVP chants, not for Damian Lillard, but for Kobe Bryant of course. Kobe Bryant had another impressive game and did not sit the whole game. Kobe scored 47 points to lead his team to the win and added 4 blocks. Pau Gasol had another good game with 23 points. Dwight Howard scored 20 points and had another double double with 10 rebounds making it his 47th double double of the season. In total the big 3 for the Lakers scored 90 points all together. Damian Lillard  had an impressive game himself scoring 38 points and added 9 assists. Kobe was impressed saying after the game “that boy is serious.”

The Lakers are now a full game ahead of the Utah Jazz who have three games left, two against the Minnesota Timberwolves and one against the Memphis Grizzlies. For the Lakers all opponents they have left are in the playoffs. They play the Warriors, Spurs and the Rockets. The Lakers are on a three game winning streak and need to keep it going to get into the playoffs and if they do carry the momentum into the first round. The Lakers play again on Friday at home against the Golden State Warriors.

Lakers In Tight Spot

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By Kevin R. Linares

 

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a tight spot trying to win the 8th and final spot of the western conference playoffs. Losing to their rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, just made it worse. The Lakers lost to the Clippers 95 to 109 making it the first time the Clippers have won the season series against their rivals with a sweep. The Lakers played a good first half as they looked to go inside to Dwight Howard but they could not find success in the second half. Both Kobe Bryant and Howard led the team scoring 25 points each.

The win gives the Clippers their first division title in franchise history. With plenty of more important banners of their own, the Lakers had bigger problems to worry about than having their rivals win the division title. Kobe and the Lakers find themselves out of playoffs with only five games left in the season.

The Lakers are at the 9th spot right behind the Utah Jazz who would stay at the 8th playoff spot if the two teams were to tie. Steve Nash continues to be doubtful in returning for the next game which means minutes for Kobe Bryant will not be going down during their playoff push. Good news for the purple and gold is that Metta World Peace is having a very good recovery after surgery. It was announced that World Peace would be expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks but he is way ahead of schedule already being listed as game time decision in the team’s next game.

The Utah Jazz have four games left in the season. Their next opponent is the Oklahoma City Thunder who are in second place in the west. After the Thunder the Jazz play the Minnesota Timberwolves two times before taking on the Memphis Grizzlies to bring the regular season to an end. The Lakers will need to win all they can as they take on the New Orleans Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets. Three of the next 5 opponents for the Lakers are currently in the playoffs. The Lakers take on the Hornets at Staples Center on Wednesday.

Lakers Back to Back

By Kevin R. Linares

The Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 120 to 117 making it 22 wins in a row over the Wolves. The victory ended in controversy with Kobe Bryant appearing to have possibly fouled Ricky Rubio as he took a three pointer from near half court as time expired. The referees did not blow the whistle and Los Angeles escaped with the victory. When asked what he thought if the foul would have been called or the shot went in Kobe said, “No. We would have gone into overtime and won the game. It’s simple as that.”

The four Laker all stars played well,  all scoring in double digits. Kobe Bryant led the way scoring 31 points for the purple and gold. Dwight Howard scored 25 points, 16 rebounds and did his part on defense with 5 blocks. Pau Gasol was looking good and had his best game since coming back from injury scoring 17 points. Steve Nash added 16 points and dished out 8 assists. Metta World Peace was out of the starting line up and replaced by Jodie Meeks. World Peace is expected to miss at least six weeks after it was announced that he would have surgery on his left knee because of a torn meniscus he suffered against the Warriors.

The Lakers take on the Milwaukee Bucks who, like the Lakers, sit at the 8th spot in their conference. Kobe Bryant can make history passing Wilt Chamberlain in the all time scoring list with 35 points. The Lakers with a win can also look to win their first back to back games of the season and further their distance at the 8th spot with the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks closely behind them.

Warriors Too Much For Lakers

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Kevin R. Linares

The Los Angeles Lakers could not get it together against the Golden State Warriors losing 103 to 109. The Warriors, currently in the 6th seed, did not let the Lakers come close, leading by double digits almost the whole game. No one expected this game to be an easy win for the Lakers but after taking a couple days off there was no excuse for the way they played throughout the game.

Stephen Curry was questionable for tonight’s game but did play and leading his team in scoring with 25 points. Jarrett Jack gave the Lakers problems the last time they met and did so again off the bench scoring 19 points.  The Lakers did make a push late in the 4th quarter but dug themselves in too big of a whole. Every time it looked like the Lakers could make a run the Warriors took over and widened the deficit. The little trouble the Lakers gave Golden State came from Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. Bryant scored 36 points while Nash added 21, which was the same amount of points the bench scored all together.

Pau Gasol was in the starting line up for the second game in a row after coming off his foot injury. Gasol played limited minutes again scoring 7 points and still needs time to get back into rhythm. Antawn Jamison played tonight after suffering an injury to his wrist against the Wizards. Injuries are still hurting the Lakers and you can now add Metta World Peace as the latest victim. World Peace strained his left knee and after the game Mike D’Antoni did say there was a lot of pain but no word on whether he would sit out or not. World Peace did not give to many details himself when talking to reporters just saying that he would have to wait and see tomorrow. If World Peace were to miss a game, Jodie Meeks or Earl Clark might be expected to start.

The Lakers could have looked to secure a playoff spot with a win against the Wizards or Warriors but after losing both they are now closer to falling out of the playoffs if they do not find a way to win. The Utah Jazz are trailing the Lakers by just one game and the Dallas Mavericks are making a late run behind a game and a half. The Lakers play again on Wednesday taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves who will be finishing up back to back games in Minnesota.