Oklahoma City Thunder rout Los Angeles Lakers to near West top spot
The Oklahoma City Thunder moved within one victory of securing the Western Conference top seed for a third consecutive season by routing the Los Angeles Lakers 123-87 on Tuesday.
The commanding 36-point victory means the current conference leaders need just one more win, or a San Antonio Spurs defeat, to guarantee the number one spot.
It marks the second time in six days that the visitors have suffered a heavy loss, following a historic 139-96 thrashing by the defending NBA champions on Thursday.
Missing key personnel including LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles outfit initially managed to keep the game competitive into the second quarter.
However, the home side seized total control with a devastating 23-5 run over the final seven minutes of the first half.
Gilgeous-Alexander continues historic scoring streak
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was instrumental once again, pouring in 25 points during his 28 minutes on the court.
The prolific guard extended his remarkable record to 139 consecutive games registering 20 or more points.
His efforts helped his franchise secure a sixth straight win and an impressive 18th victory in their past 19 outings.
Rui Hachimura offered limited resistance for the struggling visitors with a team-high 15 points.
This third successive defeat leaves the Lakers trailing the Denver Nuggets in the race for the third seed.
Suns miss out as Timberwolves secure play-off spot
Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns lost out on an automatic post-season berth following a 119-105 defeat to the Houston Rockets.
Kevin Durant tormented his former team with a 24-point performance, enduring persistent boos from the frustrated Phoenix crowd.
That result allowed the Minnesota Timberwolves to lock up the final guaranteed spot after they comprehensively dismantled the Indiana Pacers 124-104.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics took a major step towards securing the second seed by holding off the Charlotte Hornets 113-102.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors preserved their automatic advancement ambitions with a dominant 121-95 victory over the Miami Heat.
The beaten Heat are now condemned to participate in next week’s play-in tournament alongside the aforementioned Suns.