Lakers, Rockets ready for important pre-playoff showdowns

With the stakes escalating seemingly with each game, the Los Angeles Lakers did not squander an opportunity against the Denver Nuggets to continue climbing the Western Conference standings.

The Lakers' 127-125 overtime win over the Nuggets on Saturday not only clinched the season series between the teams, it moved the Lakers a half-game ahead of the Houston Rockets for third place in the West -- just in time for back-to-back matchups Monday and Wednesday in Houston.

The Lakers and Rockets enter the two-game set tied in the loss column. They're also two losses ahead of the Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Lakers have caught fire at the right time, winning eight of nine to seize the pole position in a riveting four-squad squabble. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have all but secured the top two seeds in the West, which leaves the aforementioned quartet to battle it out for the final two home-court advantages in the opening round of the playoffs.

That ongoing skirmish has transformed the final four weeks of the regular season into a playoff-like environment.

"Our guys approached it like a playoff game; they played it like a playoff game," Lakers coach JJ Redick said of the Denver win. "It wasn't perfect, but they stuck with it. So the winning plays really stuck out."

The Rockets opened a five-game homestand with a 107-105 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, a win that came despite the absence of All-Star center Alperen Sengun (back).

Without Sengun, the Rockets' second-leading scorer and leader in assists and rebounds, Houston had to take an alternate approach offensively. Part of that involved Amen Thompson taking a more proactive role, both attacking the rim and capitalizing on perimeter opportunities when the Pelicans scrambled to occasionally trap Kevin Durant and force him to give up the ball.

Thompson is typically a force in the paint. But without Sengun, there was additional space for Thompson to operate. The onus remains on Thompson to capitalize when the moment arrives.

"I've just got to be aggressive, especially with Alpi (Sengun) out," said Thompson, who scored 23 points and posted team highs in rebounds (12) and assists (eight). "I've got to get more rebounds, I've got to guard more 'fives.' I've just got to be more active.

"I do feel like I've found my groove. I feel like my next step is being more consistent with it. Knowing what I like to get to and doing that every game, not just when I feel good."

Another component of Thompson's offensive growth is penalizing opponents for leaving him open from the perimeter. Thompson shoots just 22.3% from behind the arc this season, but he nailed two timely corner 3-pointers against the Pelicans and missed only one 3-point try.

"Don't settle for it," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said of Thompson taking advantage of those open 3-point looks. "Slash behind it if you can, but obviously those late shot clock ones we want him to step up and knock it down and be confident shooting it."