When the Lakers used multiple trade assets in order to acquire Russell Westbrook as part of an offseason deal with the Wizards, skeptics wondered if a "Big Three" of Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis could bring a championship to Los Angeles. When the front office later filled out the roster with past-their-prime veterans, those skeptics grew even louder.
But even the biggest Lakers doubters couldn't have possibly seen this coming. Heading down the final stretch of the 2021-22 regular season, Los Angeles is fighting just to secure a spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
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James-led teams are typically using March and April as ramp-up periods before the championship chase, but this Lakers group still hasn't found a winning formula through 70-plus games. Could Los Angeles miss out on the NBA Playoffs and Play-In Tournament entirely?
What are the Lakers' NBA Playoff and Play-In Tournament chances?
The Lakers have been eliminated from NBA Playoff and Play-In Tournament contention.
NBA standings 2022: Western Conference
(Current through April 5 games)
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Suns* | 63-16 | — |
| 2. | Grizzlies* | 55-24 | 8 |
| 3. | Warriors* | 50-29 | 13 |
| 4. | Mavericks* | 49-30 | 14 |
| 5. | Jazz* | 47-32 | 16 |
| 6. | Nuggets | 47-33 | 16.5 |
| 7. | Timberwolves | 45-35 | 18.5 |
| 8. | Clippers** | 39-40 | 24 |
| 9. | Pelicans** | 35-44 | 28 |
| 10. | Spurs** | 34-45 | 29 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched NBA Play-In berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Kings, Lakers, Rockets, Thunder, Trail Blazers
Lakers tiebreakers and head-to-head records
Head-to-head record is the first tiebreaker. If teams split the season series, the next tiebreaker is higher winning percentage within the division if teams share a division. If they do not share a division, the tiebreaker is winning percentage in conference games.
Here is how the Lakers have fared against teams in the Play-In race:
- vs. Pelicans: 0-3
- vs. Spurs: 2-2; Spurs own better conference record
Lakers schedule 2022
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | National TV |
| April 7 | at Warriors | 10 p.m. | TNT |
| April 8 | vs. Thunder | 10:30 p.m. | — |
| April 10 | at Nuggets | 9:30 p.m. | — |
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
- The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2021-22 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2022 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 2022 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals.
