The Los Angeles Lakers' already slim hopes of reaching the playoffs were dealt a further blow on Monday night, as they lost 113-105 to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The win was the Clippers' third straight and it improved their record to 37-29 for the season, lifting them in seventh place in the Western Conference. Their crosstown rivals, meanwhile, are on a three-game losing streak and dropped to 30-34 for the season. The Lakers are 5.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs, who currently occupy the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.
From the moment they signed LeBron James in the summer, the Lakers were expected to be the main story of the NBA season. However, their campaign has fallen apart at a rate of knots and Patrick Beverley believes the Clippers are now the top team in Los Angeles.
The Clippers have won the season series in each of the last six years and have won both of this season's meetings so far, ahead of the third and final matchup of the campaign between the two teams on April 5.
"There was seven people here for media day," the Clippers point guard said after the game, as per Ben Golliver of the Washington Post.
"I told Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], 'Wait until the end of the year.' Just like I said we were the best team in LA. A lot of people don't believe me, it's fine."
Beverley frustrated LeBron throughout the game and finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five steals in 36 minutes.
The point guard was not the only Clippers player who didn't seem too bothered by the issues surrounding the Lakers.
"That's their business," Clippers guard Lou Williams, who came off the bench to score 21 points, told ClutchPoints when asked if he thought the win over the Lakers might have put an end to the Purple and Gold's season.
"That's their business. I couldn't care less."
The Lakers needed to rebound after a dismal road against Phoenix and were quick out of the blocks, leading from eight after the first period. However, the Clippers clawed back the gap in the second quarter and never looked back, inspired by Danilo Gallinari. The Italian led the team with 23 points and added six rebounds in just 28 minutes.
LeBron finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Rajon Rondo added 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. The 16-time NBA champion were again hampered by injuries, with Brandon Ingram sitting out the game after developing soreness in his right shoulder after the morning shootaround.
Kyle Kuzma then limped off the floor with an ankle injury with just over six minutes left to play.
The Lakers have lost 10 of their last 15 games and their playoffs hopes are almost extinguished but LeBron insisted they could not afford to throw in the towel.
"You take the challenge and you continue to stay positive no matter what's going on," he told NBA TV.
The Lakers take on Denver at home on Wednesday night, while the Clippers host Oklahoma City on Friday.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he was a news and business reporter at International Business Times UK. Dan has also written for The Guardian and The Observer.
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