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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Lebron, Lakers tune up for playoffs with dominant win over Jazz

Lebron, Lakers tune up for playoffs with dominant win over Jazz

Published Apr 13, 2026 12:43 pm

At A Glance

  • LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 18 points, six assists and four rebounds in the first half, and the Los Angeles Lakers tuned up for the postseason with a 131-107 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night, April 12.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) goes up to shoot over Utah Jazz forward Blake Hinson (2) for a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) goes up to shoot over Utah Jazz forward Blake Hinson (2) for a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 18 points, six assists and four rebounds in the first half, and the Los Angeles Lakers tuned up for the postseason with a 131-107 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night, April 12.
Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton each had 22 points and 10 assists. James and Luke Kennard were held out of the second half as a precautionary measure, and the Lakers closed the regular season on a three-game winning streak. They finished fourth in the Western Conference and will face Houston in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite knowing they needed both a win and Denver loss to San Antonio to secure the third seed, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said his group could not worry about factors outside their control. Instead, Redick stressed continuing to build chemistry and continuity with Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) having sustained injuries that will almost certainly keep Los Angeles’ top two scorers out for the start of the postseason.
James took charge early with six points and three assists in the opening seven minutes, including steals on consecutive defensive possessions that he turned into a layup and an Ayton alley-oop.
Nick Smith Jr. had 12 points after signing a two-year contract on Sunday, giving the Lakers another ballhandler with Doncic and Reaves hurt and making him eligible for the playoffs having previously been on a two-way deal.
Oscar Tshiebwe had 29 points and 17 rebounds for the Jazz, who ended the season losing 11 straight road games. Utah has lost 60 games in consecutive seasons, having dropped a franchise-record 65 games in 2024-25.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic scored 23 points in the first half of his 65th game to become NBA award eligible and the Denver Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs, 128-118, to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
Denver had seven players score in double figures, including Julian Strawther with 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
De'Aaron Fox scored 24 points to lead San Antonio, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Stephon Castle added 10 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in his return from a two-game absence due to left foot soreness.
Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama, who reached award eligibility in his previous game, sat out as he recovers from a left rib contusion.
Jokic sat out the second half after going 7 for 12 from the field, with eight rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in 18 minutes, 15 seconds.
Jokic was listed as questionable with an injured right wrist, but entered the finale having played in 64 games.
The NBA requires players to participate in 65 games to be eligible for MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year honors. The NBA allows two exemptions of 15 to 19:59 minutes played to count as an official game. Jokic had one exemption remaining.
Denver (54-28) will host No. 6 Minnesota (48-33) in the opening round of the playoffs.
San Antonio, which matched the third-most victories in franchise history after going 62-20, will play the seventh seed, which will be determined by the winner of the first play-in game.
Denver went on a 22-0 run two minutes into the second quarter, holding San Antonio scoreless for 8:45 in building a 63-40 lead. Jokic had 11 points and Curtis Jones added 10 in the quarter.
Jones finished with 13 points.
Spurs rookie Carter Bryant had 13 points, including a dunk over Jokic, along with five rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

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