Lakers Playoff Watch: Los Angeles Could Firm Up Play-In Position Today
Your 33-34 Los Angeles Lakers are one of several Western Conference play-in tournament contenders looking to move up the ranks today, when they host the surging New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena.
A win today would improve the Lakers to a three-way tie, by record, with the seventh and eighth seeds in their conference, the 34-34 Minnesota Timberwolves and the skidding, star-studded 34-34 Dallas Mavericks (3-7 in their last 10). Both clubs do have better inter-conference records than Los Angeles (currently 19-22), so the team will remain ninth seed in the West even with a win.
A loss would shift LA into the West's 10th seed, as it would sport an identical 33-35 record to the Utah Jazz, but a poorer record in the West (Utah is 21-22).
Elsewhere today, the 11th-seeded New Orleans Pelicans (32-35) are facing off against the 13th-seeded Portland Trail Blazers (31-36). LA fans should probably be rooting for a Portland win to help create a bit more distance between NOLA and the top 10.
The 12th seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder (also 32-35), are playing the shamelessly tanking San Antonio Spurs (17-49) today. The Lakers faithful will be finding themselves in the odd position of hoping for a Spurs victory in that matchup.
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