How tight is the Western Conference race?
The Utah Jazz haven’t clinched a postseason berth
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Utah will get its first chance to clinch a playoff spot when it visits the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Sunday evening.
The Jazz (46-33) have won four in a row following their 117-95 victory against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. If they can beat the Lakers and win against the visiting Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, they can finish third in the West with a win in Portland in the regular-season finale Wednesday.
The Portland Trail Blazers were in the driver’s seat for the third seed in the West, but lost at the San Antonio Spurs 116-105 on Saturday night.
The Lakers (34-45) are in a much different position than the Jazz. They’re limping to the finish line with three games left.
Los Angeles rookie point guard Lonzo Ball has been upgraded to questionable against Utah after missing the past five games with a left knee bruise, and forward Kyle Kuzma is also listed as questionable after sustaining an ankle sprain Friday night against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kuzma is second on the team in scoring (16.1) along with forward Brandon Ingram
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Lakers power forward Julius Randle continues his torrid pace, however.
He had 20 points and 10 rebounds against Minnesota for his 12th double-double in the past 16 games. Randle had his best game of the season at the free throw line against the Timberwolves, making all 10 of his attempts to account for half his points.
“I think his willingness to continue to grow as a player is really impressive.” Lakers coach Luke Walton said after the loss to Minnesota. “He’s so dominant physically, and he’s had so much success recently
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Randle’s most glaring weakness has been turnovers. He has given the ball back on 13.2 percent of the team’s possessions this season and had five turnovers in the loss to the Timberwolves.
“We’re asking more of him as far as him being a playmaker,” Walton said. “Teams are collapsing
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Randle came up one assist shy of his second triple-double of the season when Los Angeles played the Jazz on Tuesday in Utah, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams says he expects to be back for training camp after having surgery on his right knee.
Williams wore a bandage on his knee as he spoke to reporters Wednesday after the Redskins worked out in their practice bubble during their mandatory minicamp.
The Pro Bowler missed six of 16 games last season.
Williams said he had his tibia bone readjusted so his ”kneecap isn’t out of place” and also had a ”slight microfracture on top of that.”
Williams says he’s been in a ”cave” the last five months
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The Redskins open training camp July 26 in Richmond.
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