Lakers holding No. 3
The Lakers sit in control of the West’s No. 3 seed at 43-25 as the regular season tightens up. L.A. has shut down Maxi Kleber (lumbar/back strain) — he’s been out five days and isn’t with the team — while Houston scratched Alperen Şengün last-minute ahead of tonight’s matchup, leaving the Rockets short up front. (cbssports.com) (sportingnews.com) (fadeawayworld.net)
Lakers have opened a six-game winning streak and sit 9-1 over their last 10 games, a run that’s helped steady their hold on the conference’s upper tier. (nba.com) The two teams split the first two meetings, and the next matchup — scheduled for March 18 at the Toyota Center — will decide the season series tiebreaker. (cbssports.com) Maxi Kleber’s role this season has been limited: he’s averaged just 11.0 minutes and 2.2 points across 35 appearances for L.A., making him a reserve rotation piece rather than a regular starter. (basketball.realgm.com) Kleber carries the three‑year, $33 million veteran contract that began with his prior extension, a salary structure that keeps him on the Lakers’ books as they manage minutes and health down the stretch. (spotrac.com) Houston was forced to scratch Alperen Şengün at the last minute with a back issue, removing a player who averages about 20.2 points and 8.9 rebounds this season and leaving the Rockets notably light in the frontcourt. (fadeawayworld.net) Los Angeles beat Houston 100-92 in the most recent meeting (March 16) without Kleber active, a result that, combined with the upcoming tiebreaker, could shift first-round seeding depending on the outcome of the rematch. (espn.com)
