Lakers playoff picture: Scenarios, potential first-round matchups
The Los Angeles Lakers dropped a pivotal game against the Clippers on Wednesday night, but with two games left and a logjam remaining in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers could finish anywhere from fifth to ninth in the conference by the end of Sunday.
There are currently five teams – the Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, Pelicans and Timberwolves – separated by just two games in the standings, meaning the Lakers’ playoff route won’t be determined until the final day of the regular season. Most teams will be hoping for a first-round matchup with the Sacramento Kings, but series against the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Suns are all also possible.
Here’s a full breakdown of the Lakers’ position in the Western Conference:
Western Conference standings (as of April 6)
1. Denver Nuggets (52-27)
2. Memphis Grizzlies (50-30) – 2.5 games back
3. Sacramento Kings (48-32) – 4.5 games back
4. Phoenix Suns (44-35) – 8 games back
5. LA Clippers (42-38) – 10.5 games back
6. Golden State Warriors (42-38) – 10.5 games back
—————- Play-in territory —————-
7. Los Angeles Lakers (41-39) – 11.5 games back
8. New Orleans Pelicans (41-39) – 11.5 games back
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-40) – 12.5 games back
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (38-42) – 14.5 games back
—————- Out of playoffs —————-
11. Dallas Mavericks (38-42) – 14.5 games back
12. Utah Jazz (36-43) – 16 games back
Lakers remaining schedule
The Lakers have two games remaining, both at home.
First, the Lakers will host Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns, before closing the season against the Jazz.
Friday, April 7: vs. Phoenix, 7:30 p.m. PT
Sunday, April 9: vs. Utah, 12:30 p.m. PT
The Lakers trail in both regular-season series with the Suns and Jazz, 1-2.
Opponents' remaining schedules
The Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, Pelicans and Timberwolves are all fighting for the same playoff seeds, and are separated by two games in the standings with two games left to play.
Of those four team, the Pelicans have arguably the easiest remaining schedule, while the Clippers finish with a back-to-back. The Blazers and Suns are common opponents to multiple teams, and will play pivotal roles in deciding the final standings in the West.
Clippers: vs. Portland (4/8), at Phoenix (4/9)
Warriors: at Sacramento (4/7), at Portland (4/9)
Lakers: vs. Phoenix (4/7), vs. Utah (4/9)
Pelicans: vs. New York Knicks (4/7), at Timberwolves (4/9)
Timberwolves: at San Antonio (4/8), vs. Pelicans (4/9)
Potential playoff matchups
The first four seeds in the Western Conference are mostly set, and the consensus among many experts is that the teams jockeying for position further down the standings would covet the No. 6 seed.
Why? The sixth seed in the West could play the Sacramento Kings – a talented but unproven team on the rise, while the fifth seed will play the Phoenix Suns.
There is a twist, however. Should the Grizzlies lose out and the Kings win out, they’d swap places and the No. 6 seed would then face the No. 3 Grizzlies. For the following scenarios, we’re going to assume the first four seeds in the West stay put:
If the Lakers finish fifth: First round vs. Suns, second round vs. Nuggets or play-in team
If the Lakers finish sixth: First round vs. Kings, second round vs. Grizzlies or play-in team
If the Lakers finish seventh or eighth: Play in game vs. seventh or eighth seed. If the Lakers win, they’d advance to the first round vs. Grizzlies.
With a loss in the 7 vs. 8 game, the Lakers would then face the winner of the 9 vs. 10 matchup, and a win would move them on to face the No. 1 Nuggets.
If the Lakers finish ninth: Play in game vs. No. 10 seed (either Minnesota, Oklahoma City or Dallas), play in game vs. loser of 7 vs. 8 game, first round vs. No. 1 Nuggets.
