Lakers Matchup vs Golden State on Tuesday Has Massive Playoff Implications

Matt Levine | Apr 8, 2024

We are down to the final three games on the schedule for the Los Angeles Lakers and they currently sit in 9th place within the Western Conference standings. An unfortunate injury to star Anthony Davis during the team's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening may have changed the trajectory of the season, but there is still time to make things up.

While Los Angeles no longer controls their own destiny to avoid being in the 9th/10th place play-in game, they can at least take care of business in securing home court for a potential game. They are locked into a playoff spot, but where they will land is an entirely different story.

Right behind the Lakers in the standings are the Golden State Warriors and naturally the two teams are set to play each other on Tuesday in Los Angeles. This game will determine the tiebreaker if the two teams were to finish the season with the same record and could decide if a play-in game between these two is played at Crypto.com Arena or Chase Center.

For the Lakers, they have no margin of error if they want to avoid having to win two play-in games to reach the official bracket. They will have to win their last three contests and hope that some of the teams above them lose a game or two as well.

But first, this team must take care of business against the Warriors on Tuesday with a win. It will not only secure them home-court in a potential play-in matchup but will keep them alive to move up within the standings before the season ends.