After scoring 31 points, Austin Reaves led the Lakers to an important victory on the road.
The Lakers and Reaves secured a tie-break against the Grizzlies in the battle for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
March 30, 2025
Western Conference Clash: Lakers clinch vital road win in Memphis; Oklahoma City surpasses 50 wins.
Play-In Race Adjustments: Mavericks overtake the Kings in the West, while the Magic move ahead of the Hawks in the East.
Eight Is a Charm: Boston secures the division title with their 8th consecutive win, while the Nets end their losing streak.
Tonight on NBA TV: Knicks face Blazers at home; Rockets aim for their 12th win in 13 games against the Suns.
League Pass Preview: Key matchups await for the Clippers, Warriors, and Wolves as they compete for the 6th seed.
FIRST THINGS FIRST … ⏰
The countdown to the regular season conclusion begins now…
The NBA TV doubleheader commences at Madison Square Garden, featuring the Knicks hosting the Blazers (6 ET), as New York looks to capture a fifth consecutive win against Portland.
Following this, the Rockets will visit the Suns (9 ET) in pursuit of their 12th victory in 13 outings, with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant looking to secure a play-in spot.
1. LAKERS STRENGTHEN HOLD ON 4TH SEED, OKC REACHES 50-WIN MILESTONE
As the regular season winds down, head-to-head matchups among teams competing for playoff positions gain significance.
This was evident on Saturday when the Lakers faced the Grizzlies.
Both teams entered the game with identical 44-29 records, with the Lakers slightly ahead due to a 2-1 lead in their season series.
A victory for the Lakers would not only secure a one-game lead over Memphis but also clinch the tiebreaker should both teams finish the season tied.
Lakers Instagram
Lakers 134, Grizzlies 127: Austin Reaves (31 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast, 5 3PM), Luka Dončić (29 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast), and LeBron James (25 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl) combined for 85 points, leading the Lakers to a victory over the Grizzlies. | Game Recap
- Grizzlies’ Key Players: Desmond Bane (29 pts, 5 3PM), Jaren Jackson Jr. (24 pts), and Ja Morant (22 pts, 8 reb, 10 ast) all surpassed 20 points as Memphis suffered a loss under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo.
- LeBron’s Record: Having previously reached milestones of 39K, 40K, and 41K points, LeBron surpassed 42K in this win.
- Playoff Standings (LAL): The Lakers maintain their spot at 4th in the West, 1 game ahead of the 5th-place Grizzlies and 1.5 games behind the 3rd-place Nuggets.
- Playoff Standings (MEM): Following the loss, the Grizzlies remain 5th in the West, just one game above the 6th-place Clippers.
2. MAVS AND MAGIC MAKE MOVES IN SoFi NBA PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
Mavs 120, Bulls 119: Dallas remains unbeaten (4-0) with Anthony Davis returning. He contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists to help the Mavs end Chicago’s four-game winning streak. Klay Thompson led with 20 points, including five 3s. | Game Recap
- Bulls Scoring: Rookie Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 28 points, followed by Coby White and Nikola Vučević, each scoring 25.
- Klay’s Achievement: Klay Thompson reached 200 3-pointers made in a season for the 10th time in his career, joining former teammate Steph Curry in this exclusive club.
- Playoff Race (DAL ⬆️): With the win, the Mavs climbed to 9th in the West, tightening their grip over the 10th-place Kings.
- Playoff Race (CHI ↔️): The Bulls remain 9th in the East, securing a tiebreaker over the 10th-place Heat.
