Coming into Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers only needed to pull out the win to clinch the division title, and help improve their position in the Western Conference. Chris Paul and company are one of only three teams to clinch their division, with the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat being the other two.
As a result of the loss to the Clippers, the Lakers fall to 40-37 on the season, and are tied with the Utah Jazz once again meaning they’re currently out of the playoffs with five games left in the regular season.
The Lakers will have their work cut out for them moving forward with the last five games by no means being easy wins for Kobe Bryant and company.
Mike D’Antoni’s squad will face the New Orleans Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets in their final games. Only one of these games will be on the road with the Lakers heading to the Rose Garden to face the Blazers.
As for the Jazz, Utah will face the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves (twice) and the Memphis Grizzlies. Two out of the final five games will be played in Salt Lake City.
Lakers Nation News
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Lakers News
In Koreatown, The Lakers Are The Team Holding Court [LA Times]
Summer Beckons, But In L.A. It’s Still A Winter’s Sports Tale [LA Times]
For Clippers, Matchup Against Lakers Has Larger Ramifications [LA Times]
Rivarly Takes Back Seat To Lakers’ Playoff Push [LA Times]
Jeff Van Gundy Expecting Clippers To Sweep Lakers On Sunday [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant Says He And Pau Gasol Are Unstoppable Offensive Duo [LA Times]
Ding: Jerry Buss Must Go On Lakers’ Wall Before Kobe [OC Register]
D’Antoni Not Focusing On Other Teams In Playoff Race [OC Register]
Lakers: World Peace Better, But No Word On His Return [OC Register]
Beast Or Burden: A Welcome Flashback [Silver Screen & Roll]
Lakers Playoff Hopes Rest On Howard’s Shoulder [Silver Screen & Roll]
Video Playbook: Dwight’s Defense Is Alive [Silver Screen & Roll]
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Not Expecting Much Playoff Success From These Lakers [LA Daily News]
April 6 State Of The Lakers [Forum Blue & Gold]
NBA News
Gallo Done For Season [SB Nation]
2013 Hall Of Fame Class Includes Payton, Tark [SB Nation]
Wes Matthews Is Not Pleased [SB Nation]
Who Joins LeBron On The MVP Ballot? [SB Nation]
Detroit’s New Direction [SB Nation]
Spurs’ Parker May Have Tendinitis In Shin [SB Nation]
Ricky Rubio Receives Warning For Violating League’s Anti-Flopping Rule (VIDEO) [Pro Basketball Talk]
Michael Beasley Says He’s Stopped Listening To Everybody, Including His Coaches [Pro Basketball Talk]
Iman Shumpert Shaves Adidas Logo Into The Back Of His Head, Later Removes It And Apologizes [Pro Basketball Talk]
Terrence Ross Throws Down The 360 Slam Dunk (VIDEO) [Pro Basketball Talk]
Blake Griffin Says Clippers Shouldn’t Hang Division Title Banner At Staples Center [Pro Basketball Talk]
NBA Dunk Of The Week: Kenyon Martin Dunks On Chris Andersen [Sports City]
VIDEO: Knicks’ Jason Kidd Hits Incredible Buzzer-Beater [Sports City]
VIDEO: Thunders’ Kevin Durant Throws It Down Vs. Spurs [Sports City]
Who’s The Best Of All Time? The Top 10 Players In NBA History [Sports City]
Andre Igoudala’s Game-Winning Layup Seals The Deal For Nuggets [Sports City]