With just days remaining in the 2021 NBA season, there is a fierce battle going on in the West standings right now.
The Lakers and Trail Blazers are locked into a war for the 6th seed, and a ticket to avoid the play-in tournament.
Had Portland won tonight’s game against Phoenix, L.A.’s fate would have been set. But in a last-minute call by the refs, Devin Booker drew a foul on Norman Powell, sending him to the line where he inked two free throws to seal the game and keep the Lakers’ hopes alive.
The foul itself was controversial, leading to many jokes and reactions from the Twitter community.
Booker wins the game at the FT line on a controversial call 😨 https://t.co/GYAotqgoGF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 14, 2021
Anything to keep the Lakers out of the play-in game 🤣🤣 https://t.co/cilHiErKsp
— Eric Thomas (@ephillyt) May 14, 2021
I just REALLY wanna see a Lakers-Warriors play-in game… that’d be fun. 🤷🏻♂️
— Justin (@jwilliams0713) May 14, 2021
NBA trying to keep the lakers from the play-in https://t.co/vj1oyI8vYD
— Nathan DeGuzman (@ndeguzman12) May 14, 2021
NBA doesn’t want the Lakers to be in the play-in so bad
— 🇮🇷🇵🇸 (@SlizzyBoy6) May 14, 2021
https://twitter.com/fergoe/status/1393067427483856899
I think the Lakers are going to avoid the play-in. Think we’re going to win our last 2 and I think Portland losses to Denver Sunday
— AW. (@austinw_93) May 14, 2021
That was “help the Lakers get out of the Play-in by any means” 😂
— Conway (@CoachConway21) May 14, 2021
In all seriousness, this is exactly why the play-in tournament is such as asset to the league. Usually, the end of the season is a time where teams rest their stars and coast by as they prepare for the playoffs. This season, though, it’s actually highly intense as teams do what they can to avoid the play-in.
It will be interesting to see how the next few days play out. Will the Lakers secure the 6th seed and avoid an extra round? Will they drop the ball and miss the cut?
Whatever the case, it is shaping up to be a captivating ending for what has been an extraordinary season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vIXDMGclFg
