LA Lakers claim play-off spot

The Los Angeles Lakers secured the final play-off spot with an overtime victory over the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers had rallied to take the game into overtime before sealing a 99-95 win.

Steve Blake scored 24 points and Pau Gasol added his seventh career triple-double for the Lakers (45-37), who only clinched a post-season berth about 10 minutes before tipoff.

Despite Parsons’ improbable tying basket, Los Angeles won again without Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, earning a first-round date with second-seeded San Antonio.

“I’m proud of the whole team and the way they stepped up at the end of the year,” said Blake, who added seven assists and seven rebounds to cap his second impressive game in Bryant’s absence.

Gasol had 17 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists in his second triple-double in three games for the Lakers, who avoided the embarrassment of missing the playoffs for just the second time in Bryant’s 17-year career.

Howard had 16 points and 18 rebounds for the Lakers, and the All-Star centre blocked James Harden’s shot in the final seconds of overtime to finish up the Lakers’ fifth straight win, their eighth in nine games.

“From where we were 20 or 30 games ago, a seven (seed) is pretty good,” said coach Mike D’Antoni.

“We shouldn’t have been in that spot in the first place, but it’s our fault.”