Spurs clinch return
The San Antonio Spurs clinched their first NBA playoff berth since 2019, snapping a multi‑year drought for the franchise. Meanwhile the Los Angeles Lakers are surging late and being flagged as serious title contenders as the regular season winds down. (cbssports.com) (el-balad.com)
Victor Wembanyama buried a 17‑foot fadeaway with 1.1 seconds remaining to put San Antonio ahead in a 101‑100 win over Phoenix that clinched the Spurs’ postseason spot. (espn.com)) Wembanyama finished the night with 34 points, 12 rebounds and three steals, marking his 11th 30‑and‑10 game of the season. (espn.com)) San Antonio sits atop its recent stretch with a 52‑18 ledger and is listed second in the Western Conference standings in current projections. (basketball-reference.com)) The clinching game drew 18,648 fans to Frost Bank Center, included a courtside wine spill onto Wembanyama’s shorts, and featured teammate Keldon Johnson leading an impromptu MVP chant after the buzzer. (espn.com)) Los Angeles’ late surge peaked with Luka Dončić scoring 60 points in a 134‑126 win at Miami, extending the Lakers’ season‑best winning streak to eight games. (espn.com)) LeBron James recorded a triple‑double in that same Miami game and tied the NBA record for most regular‑season games played at 1,611. (nba.com)) National power rankings have pushed the Lakers into the top five as the regular season winds down, reflecting the club’s recent 10‑of‑11 stretch. (clutchpoints.com)) Betting markets and futures shifted after the hot streak, with sportsbooks moving Los Angeles up in NBA Finals odds as analysts flag the team’s momentum heading into seeding and the play‑in window. (si.com))
