Clippers punch postseason ticket with Lakers' loss to Raptors

The Los Angeles Clippers are headed to the playoffs for the third straight season, and they can thank their rivals for it.

The Clippers mathematically clinched a postseason berth Sunday when the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 121-114 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Tyronn Lue's squad entered Sunday needing a loss by either the Lakers or the Portland Trail Blazers to secure a playoff spot. Portland defeated the Boston Celtics earlier in the day, leaving the Clippers to rely on Toronto.

This will be the Clippers' ninth playoff appearance in the last 10 seasons. The 2017-18 campaign was the only one over that stretch in which they failed to secure a playoff seed, falling five games short of eighth in the Western Conference.