The Fight For the Four Seed, Russell Westbrook, and Concacaf
30+ headlines from sports in the Pacific Time Zone this week
Postseason action is the focus this week. In the NBA, the Lakers clinched their third seed atop the Western Conference. Los Angeles cemented their place in the standings all while Luka got emotional in his return to Dallas. He’s the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to drop 45 with and against the same team.
Meanwhile, the Clippers are tied for the fourth spot with the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies. Denver fired Mike Malone, somewhat unexpectedly this week. Of course, Russell Westbrook is catching some of the blame. Oddly enough, Malone’s replacement, David Adelman, made his debut where his father made his name as a coach.
Still, the Clippers play the Sacramento Kings tomorrow and the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. A loss in any of those games could easily put the Clippers in the sixth seed to play the Lakers in the first round. They hold the tie-breaker over the Warriors but not the other teams fighting for position.
The Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves are on their heels in the seventh and eighth seed. Golden State was the hottest team in basketball but they have cooled off.
GAME TO WATCH: Clippers at Warriors, Sunday at @ 12:30 PM.
The Sacramento Kings are in the Play-In at least. Portland is eliminated.
Otherwise, the Golden Knights and Kings are the top two teams in the Pacific Division. Both already clinched a playoff spot with five games left.
In Footy, LAFC was eliminated from the Concacaf by Inter Miami this week. The Galaxy were eliminated last week by Tigres UANL.
West Coast Sports Links
20+ headlines from the West Coast, curated from hundreds of sources over the last two weeks
NBA
Lillard dealing with a blood clot
10 records Steph Curry can beat
NFL
Rams debut ambition development project
Matt Gay released by the Colts
MLB
Angels trade for Angel Perdomo and send Michael Peterson to the Braves
Blue Jay fans won’t go to Seattle now
Mariners fans put ownership on notice
Seattle sent Cody Bolton to the Guardians
Ryan Kent officially joins Sounders
Is Bryce trying to get to the Dodgers?
Trump calls Dave Roberts the GOAT
Jackson Merrill was advised to reject his extension
NHL
Sharks welcome a cancer survivor
Ducks and Kings unite for a beach cleaning
MLS
Herbalife continues supporting the Special Olympics Unified Team