The Lakers have been one of the NBA's hottest teams since the beginning of February, winning 21 of their 30 and clinching a postseason spot in the process.
The playoffs, however, are another story.
Despite LA's surge, it enters the final week of the NBA season as the West's ninth seed and the window to move up in the standings is dwindling. After making a run from the Play-In Tournament to the Western Conference Finals in 2023, will the Lakers be forced to try to do it again?
With LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way, the Lakers have the look and makeup of a playoff team, but they still have their work cut out. As no seeding is set, the Lakers have an outside chance of moving to sixth and avoiding the Play-In Tournament, though a more realistic goal is to at least move up to the seven-eight line in the Play-In Tournament.
What are the Lakers' playoff scenarios? Here is a look at seeding possibilities, potential postseason opponents and a look at the standings as the season winds down.
MORE: TSN's Steph Noh shares his expert All-NBA picks
Lakers playoff scenarios 2024
With three games remaining on their regular season schedule, the Lakers can finish no higher than sixth in the Western Conference standings.
According to Basketball-Reference's Playoff Probabilities Report, LA has a 3.4 percent chance to move into sixth place, which could guarantee it a playoff spot. The Lakers have a 96.6 percent chance of finishing between seventh and 10th, meaning they would have to participate in the Play-In Tournament.
The Lakers will look to move to at least seventh or eighth, as they would need to win just one game to advance to the NBA Playoffs.
MORE: Ranking Lakers, Warriors and more teams facing most pressure to make playoffs
How Lakers can clinch the No. 6 seed in the West
The Lakers must win at least two of their final three games to move up to sixth place.
Here are the sixth-seed scenarios, as outlined by Spectrum SportsNet's Mike Trudell:
- If the Lakers go 2-1: Kings, Pelicans and Suns all must go 1-3 or worse
- If the Lakers go 3-0: Kings, Pelicans and Suns all must go 2-2 or worse
Note: Trudell lists a scenario involving all teams going 0-4 but the Kings face both the Pelicans and Suns to close the season.
Lakers Play-In Tournament tiebreakers, explained
There are several possibilities for the Lakers to land in the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament.
With three games remaining, here are the Lakers' chances to finish in each Play-In Tournament seed, per Basketball-Reference:
- No. 7: 9.1 percent
- No. 8: 17.8 percent
- No. 9: 41.8 percent
- No. 10: 27.9 percent
Where the Lakers land largely depends on how they close the season and their head-to-head tiebreakers with the Kings, Pelicans, Suns and Warriors.
Here is how each season series played out:
- Kings 4, Lakers 0
- Lakers 2, Pelicans 1*
- Lakers 3, Suns 2
- Warriors 2, Lakers 1**
The Lakers can tie their season series with the Warriors when the teams meet on Tuesday, April 9. Los Angeles can clinch its season series over New Orleans with a win on Sunday, April 14.
Los Angeles owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Phoenix but was swept by Sacramento during the regular season.
Lakers potential postseason opponents
Play-In Tournament
If the season ended today, the 9-seed Lakers would host the 10-seed Warriors in the Play-In Tournament.
If the Lakers move up a line in the Play-In Tournament, they could face one of the Suns, Pelicans or Kings in the seven-eight game.
NBA Playoffs
Regardless of their Play-In Tournament standing, the Lakers would most likely face one of the Timberwolves, Nuggets or Thunder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
With four games remaining, one game separates the West's top three seeds. If the Lakers finish sixth, they would face the team that finishes third. With a Play-In Tournament victory, LA would finish seventh or eighth, setting up a first-round date with the team that finishes in one of the top two seeds.
It is worth noting that the Clippers have a 1.3 percent chance to move into third, making it possible but not likely.
MORE: Updated NBA Playoffs bracket and today's clinching scenarios
Lakers standings 2024
| Seed | Team | Record | Win pct. | GB |
| 6 | Suns | 46-32 | .590 | 8 |
| 7 | Pelicans | 46-32 | .590 | 8 |
| 8 | Kings | 45-33 | .577 | 9 |
| 9 | Lakers | 45-34 | .570 | 9.5 |
| 10 | Warriors | 43-35 | .551 | 11 |
Lakers remaining schedule
Two of Los Angeles' final three games come against teams nearby in the standings. The Lakers' home finale comes against the Warriors on April 9 and their season finale comes against the Pelicans on April 14.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | National TV |
| April 9 | vs. Warriors | 10 p.m. | TNT |
| April 12 | at Grizzlies | 8 p.m. | — |
| April 14 | at Pelicans | 3:30 p.m. | TBD |
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots. Teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the Play-In Tournament.
Each conference's Nos. 7 and 8 teams will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
Each conference's Nos. 9 and 10 teams will face off, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.
The loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game and the winner of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
Beyond the Play-In Tournament, the 2024 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series through the NBA Finals.
