LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Anthony Davis had 42 details and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Meeting playoffs by beating the Utah Jazz 116-108 on Monday night time.
The Lakers (51-15) individual a six-game guide about the 2nd-spot Los Angeles Clippers and have 5 seeding game titles allow in advance of commencing their initially playoff run since 2013.
“If you’re successful plenty of online games to secure the No. 1 seed, you’re creating the proper behaviors that are going to be vital for you to gain in the playoffs,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel reported. “Obviously we have even bigger aspirations than the No. 1 seed, but we are happy of the accomplishment and we’ll take pleasure in it although we’re acquiring all set to get our group ready for the playoffs.”
Utah (42-25) has clinched a playoff berth and is fifth in the West, a 50 percent-sport at the rear of Houston and a half-match forward of Oklahoma City.
Davis’ closing basket resulted in a 4-position perform with 42 seconds remaining, as he sank a 3-pointer when having fouled by Rudy Gobert and built the ensuing free throw to give the Lakers a 114-104 direct.
Utah’s Donovan Mitchell answered with a 4-level perform of his very own that slash the margin to 114-106 with 36 seconds remaining, but the Jazz couldn’t get any closer. Davis manufactured two no cost throws with 5.2 seconds remaining to wrap up the scoring.
LeBron James scored 22 details, Dwight Howard had 11 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope included 10 for the Lakers.
Mitchell scored 33 and Mike Conley experienced 24 for Utah. Gobert included 16 details and 13 rebounds for the Jazz.
The Lakers were being coming off a 107-92 reduction to Toronto in which Davis shot just 2 of 7 and scored 14 points. Davis was substantially additional energetic Monday suitable from the start, as he scored 13 points and shot 6 of 14 in the first quarter by yourself.
Davis experienced 24 factors by halftime, marking the 20th time this season he’s scored at least 20 points in a half.
“Coach just instructed me to be more intense,” Davis mentioned. “He felt like, and I felt like far too, that I just kind of performed into Toronto’s protection, acknowledged the double-staff. I was building the correct plays, but I even now have to be intense at the similar time.”
Utah stayed near and only trailed 58-56 at halftime due to the fact it bought its very own stellar get started from Mitchell, who scored 21 points in the to start with two intervals.
Mitchell then connected on a 3-pointer to cap an 8- run by Utah to open up the 2nd 50 %.
But the Jazz acquired progressively careless with the basketball as the third quarter progressed, enabling the Lakers to seize handle of the sport. The Lakers scored 14 straight details and went on a 19-2 run late in the 3rd quarter.
“When they flip the force up, we have got to be equipped to execute even improved,” Mitchell explained. “We turned the ball about way way too numerous instances. They did a good task of getting us out of our steps. … We went up 6, they turned it up even much more and upcoming factor you know, we’re down 12 or no matter what.”
Even soon after Utah’s Emmanuel Mudiay snapped that run by hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer, the Jazz nonetheless trailed 86-76 heading into the final period of time.
The Lakers stayed in front the rest of the way.
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