LOS ANGELES — — LeBron James had 18 factors, six assists and 4 rebounds within the first half, and the Los Angeles Lakers tuned up for the postseason with a 131-107 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night time.
Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton every had 22 factors and 10 assists. James and Luke Kennard have been held out of the second half as a precautionary measure, and the Lakers closed the common season on a three-game successful streak. They completed fourth within the Western Conference and can face Houston within the first spherical of the playoffs.
Despite understanding they wanted each a win and Denver loss to San Antonio to safe the third seed, Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioned his group couldn’t fear about elements exterior their management. Instead, Redick harassed persevering with to construct chemistry and continuity with Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (indirect) having sustained accidents that may virtually definitely maintain Los Angeles’ prime two scorers out for the beginning of the postseason.
James took cost early with six factors and three assists within the opening seven minutes, together with steals on consecutive defensive possessions that he was a layup and an Ayton alley-oop.
Nick Smith Jr. had 12 factors after signing a two-year contract on Sunday, giving the Lakers one other ballhandler with Doncic and Reaves harm and making him eligible for the playoffs having beforehand been on a two-way deal.
Oscar Tshiebwe had 29 factors and 17 rebounds for the Jazz, who ended the season dropping 11 straight street video games. Utah has misplaced 60 video games in consecutive seasons, having dropped a franchise-record 65 video games in 2024-25.
Jazz: Will anticipate the outcomes of the draft lottery for the fourth straight season.
Lakers: Host Houston on Saturday in Game 1 of the primary spherical of the playoffs.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
