Without their German internationals, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers celebrated important victories in the race for a direct playoff place in the NBA.
Thanks to a gala performance by Anthony Davis, the Lakers won 123-110 against the Phoenix Suns. The master had to do without his injured superstar LeBron James and Dennis Schröder, who is on the NBA’s Corona list, again. Nevertheless, thanks to Davis, who came to 42 points and twelve rebounds, it was enough to achieve important success. The Lakers had only won one of their previous five games.
Los Angeles is seventh in the Western Conference, just behind sixth, which is enough for a direct jump into the knockout round. The teams in places seven to ten play the last two playoff participants.
As fifth place in the Western Conference, Dallas has a good starting position after the clear 124:97 success at the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Texans missed the Würzburg Maxi Kleber due to problems with the Achilles tendon, the Cavs had to do without their German center Isaiah Hartenstein after a concussion.
Dallas was enough a solid team performance to safe success. Superstar Luka Doncic was expelled from the floor shortly after the start of the second half because he was accused of being hit in the abdomen by opponent Collin Sexton. “It wasn’t on purpose. That happens in the game. It was just two guys who fought for the rebound, »said the Slovenian.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210510-99-536108 / 2
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