How Warriors' Win vs. Lakers Impacts NBA Playoff Picture in Western Conference

The playoff race is heating up in the West.

LeBron James and the Lakers battled the Warriors on Thursday night. / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Even in the year 2025, there are few things more fun to watch in basketball than a primetime battle between Steph Curry and LeBron James.

The two future Hall of Famers were back at it again Thursday night as their respective teams jockey for seeding in the upcoming Western Conference playoffs. And on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena, it was Curry and the Warriors getting the best of Los Angeles, cruising to a 123-116 win.

Golden State entered the night holding sole possession of the No. 5 playoff seed, and they'll remain there with a 45-31 record. If the Warriors lost on Thursday night, Golden State would've plummeted to ninth place in the West—behind the Los Angeles Clippers (44-32).

As for the Lakers? They drop to 46-30, falling from the No. 3 seed to the No. 4 position behind the Denver Nuggets (47-30).

The Lakers have six games remaining against the Pelicans, Thunder (twice), Mavericks, Rockets and Trail Blazers. The Warriors also have six games to play against the Nuggets, Rockets, Suns, Spurs, Trail Blazers and Clippers.

If the playoffs began Friday, the Thunder and Rockets would play the two teams who emerge from the play-in tournament, while the No. 3 seed Nuggets would face the No. 6 seed Grizzlies, and the No. 4 seed Lakers would battle the No. 5 seed Warriors in the opening round.

NBA Playoff Picture: Western Conference

SEED	TEAMS	RECORD	GAMES LEFT
1	Thunder	64-12	6
2	Rockets	50-27	5
3	Nuggets	47-30	6
4	Lakers	46-30	6
5	Warriors	45-31	6
6	Grizzlies	45-32	5
--	PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT	--	--
7	Timberwolves	45-32	5
8	Clippers	44-32	6
9	Mavericks	38-39	5
10	Kings	36-40	6
--	--	--	--
11	Suns	35-41	6
12	Trail Blazers	34-43	5
13	Spurs	32-44	6
14	Pelicans	21-55	6
15	Jazz	16-61	5

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