The Los Angeles Lakers didn't play on Wednesday night, but if Kobe Bryant and company decided to watch any of the action they would have come away encouraged by the results. The Lakers currently trail the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference playoff race, but both teams faltered at home against Eastern Conference foes last night. Even the No. 6-seeded Golden State Warriors managed to squander a 54-point outburst by Stephen Curry at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks.
2013 NBA standings: Lakers gain ground as Jazz, Rockets stumble on Wednesday night
The Los Angeles Lakers moved up in the Western Conference playoff race without lifting a finger on Wednesday night. They have the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks to thank for knocking off the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.
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