The Los Angeles Lakers had two particular objectives coming into Friday’s conflict in opposition to the Houston Rockets: to safe the third seed and their fiftieth win.
The Rockets made these duties simpler by resting practically all their starters and rotational gamers, however the Lakers nonetheless wanted to handle enterprise, which they did with a dominant 140-109 victory.
For Luka Doncic, the third seed means slightly extra. The Slovenian guided the Mavericks to 2 Convention Finals, together with one journey to the NBA Finals, with out ever having fun with home-court benefit. However he views the third seed as a pathway to his elusive NBA championship.
Whereas addressing reporters after a game-high 39 factors on Friday, Doncic echoed teammate Austin Reaves’ sentiments that the Lakers have all of the instruments to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.
“That is my first time having house courtroom benefit, so I am actually enthusiastic about it,” Doncic stated. “That was our objective during the last 5-6 video games of the season — to lock up the third seed… Our solely objective now’s [to win a championship]. I feel we now have the group to do it. When all people is locked in, we’re a tough group to beat, in order that’s our objective.”
Friday’s win additionally meant the Lakers will get pleasure from a nine-day relaxation interval forward of the playoffs and might afford to relaxation their key gamers in Sunday’s season-finale in opposition to the Path Blazers. Doncic admitted the remaining is a godsend for his group.
