Kobe Bryant hit a game-tying three-pointer with five seconds left to lift the Los Angeles Lakers into overtime against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, and the two-time defending champs got the job done, hanging on to win and claim the No. 2 seed in the West bracket of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. The Dallas Mavericks had won earlier in the evening, but the Lakers had the tiebreaker by virtue of a division championship and claimed the higher seed.
Lakers Win In Overtime, Claiming 2-Seed In NBA Playoffs Bracket; Mavericks Take Third
The Mavericks landed in the No. 3 spot, and will face the Portland Trail Blazers in a series that begins Saturday. The Lakers will face the New Orleans Hornets; the Memphis Grizzlies had a spot to claim No. 7 with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers late on Wednesday, but effectively tanked to instead draw the No. 1 San Antonio Spurs.
By losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime, the Oklahoma City Thunder -- with their starters playing limited minutes -- guaranteed themselves the No. 4 seed. They will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
See full NBA playoff schedules for both conferences.
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