The L.A. Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans play the first of two games this week Sunday with positioning for the NBA's play-in tournament on the line.
, half a game above 10th-seeded New Orleans. San Antonio is in 11th place after its third consecutive victory, one game behind the Pelicans.
For 22 consecutive years, Gregg Popovich was the one constant behind the Spurs reaching the NBA playoffs, his astute guidance making him the all-time winningest coach in history. “If I loved it or hated it, it wouldn’t matter,” Popovich said about the play-in games. “They don’t care. It’s there and since it’s there, you try and get it.”
James sat out the Lakers’ previous game because of left knee soreness and is listed as questionable for the game Sunday. James will have had six days off to rest the knee. Dwight Howard is listed as questionable and Talen Horton-Tucker is listed as probable.