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Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard
Photo: Rick Scuteri/AP
After the next defeat, the Los Angeles Lakers around superstar LeBron James have no chance of making the playoffs in the North American basketball professional league NBA.
The 17-time champion lost 110-121 to the Phoenix Suns without the injured James and conceded the seventh loss in a row.
Because the San Antonio Spurs had previously won 116:97 at the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers can no longer make up the deficit in tenth place in the remaining three games of the main round.
James was absent with an ankle injury and had to watch the Phoenix defeat from the sidelines.
The Spurs are now safely playing the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of mini-qualifiers.
It is about one of the last two playoff places in the Western Conference of the best basketball league in the world.
The Utah Jazz made the playoffs perfect with a 121:115 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
In the west it is still unclear whether Denver can defend its direct playoff spot or whether the Minnesota Timberwolves will still overtake them to sixth place.
In the Eastern Conference, on the other hand, only placement questions without any impact on participation in qualification are open.
Despite the 106:127 defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Chicago Bulls secured the last direct ticket to the playoffs.
Wagner's short comeback
The Cleveland Cavaliers, on the other hand, have to go into the so-called play-in because of the 115:120 loss to the Orlando Magic.
Franz Wagner made his comeback for the Magic after missing his first NBA game of the season, but stopped after less than seven minutes with an ankle injury.
His brother Moritz Wagner got 15 points.
The Miami Heat consolidated their top spot in the East with a 144-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
It remains tight for second place.
The Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers each have 49 wins and 30 losses.
In the 131:122 of the 76ers against the Indiana Pacers, Joel Embiid had another outstanding evening with 45 points and 13 rebounds and promoted the award for the most valuable player on his own behalf.
ara/dpa/sid
