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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider NBA Roundup: Lakers end playoff drought; Pelicans fly with Zion; Rapper eyes contract 

NBA Roundup: Lakers end playoff drought; Pelicans fly with Zion; Rapper eyes contract 

Published Aug 4, 2020 09:49 pm

Lakers take top seed in West playoffs

The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from a rousing loss to the defending champions Toronto Raptors and qualified for the playoffs for the first since 2013 by defeating the Utah Jazz 116-108 Monday.

The Lakers also secured the top seed in the Western Conference.  

Anthony Davis topscored with 42 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Lakers.

LeBron James added 22, Dwight Howard chipped in 11, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 10.

The Jazz also qualified for the playoffs.

Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 33 points.

The Lakers face the Oklahoma City Thunder while the Jazz take on the Memphis Grizzlies next.

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Zion keeps Pelicans out of endangered list

More of Zion Williamson is what the New Orleans Pelicans needed.

Williamson, who had played sparingly in their first two games, had a breakout game and led the Pelicans to a 109-99 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Zion played 25 minutes and scored 23 points in 9-for-21 shooting.

In their first two games, Zion logged a combined 29 mintues.

Ja Morant, the presumptive Rookie of the Year candidate,  was limited by a stifling Pelicans defense to 11 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 1-of-10 from three.

Williamson said he felt alive by having more playing time.

More importantly, the win kept the Pelicans' playoff dreams alive.

Brandon Ingram chipped in 24 points for New Orleans.

Pistons invite rapper to tryout

We might see a rapper playing for an NBA team next season.

The Detroit Pistons has reached out to rapper J. Cole via Twitter for a tryout.

J. Cole is said to be considering a bid for an NBA contract.

A colleague in the music industry who had signed NBA contracts confirmed that he is serious.

He told J. Cole that he has "a long road ahead of him and has to prove his dedication and consistency."

J. Cole has a shoe commercial and has videos showing him holding his own against NBA players.

The latter might have prompted the Pistons to see what he can do on the court.

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Schroeder leaves bubble for newborn

Dennis Schroeder of the Oklahoma City Thunder has left the bubble for the birth of his child.

The family event came suddenly and the Thunder are expected to miss him. 

Schroeder is averaging 19 points per game and shooting 39 percent from three.

He has to go under quarantine when he returns and for how long is still unknown depending on his tests. (Compiled by Tristan Lozano)

Related Tags

Utah Jazz detroit pistons j. cole dennis schroeder nba Zion Williamson Anthony Davis LeBron James
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