2024 LA Lakers playoff picture after win over Washington Wizards (April 3): Updated standings, schedule and more

The LA Lakers extended their late-season momentum on Wednesday as they defeated the Washington Wizards 125-120 in the second game of a back-to-back on the road. This win brought them closer to securing a spot outside of the play-in tournament.

Despite trailing by 11 points in the first quarter, the Lakers stepped up their game and ended the period with a 31-10 run. This gave them a 10-point lead heading into the second quarter, and they were able to maintain it, even extending it to a 17-point lead late in the third.

Washington made a comeback in the last quarter, narrowing the gap to just two points (107-105) with 7:13 left on the clock. Nevertheless, LA countered with a 12-0 streak and managed to maintain their lead, securing a five-point win.

Despite facing an undermanned frontcourt, the Lakers were still able to dominate thanks to the leadership of superstar big man Anthony Davis. The nine-time All-Star showcased his dominance with a game-high 35 points, 18 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks on an impressive 58.8% shooting.

LeBron James, his co-star, contributed 25 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, and three steals while shooting 50.0%. Additionally, all five of the Los Angeles starters scored at least 16 points.

Despite Washington’s well-balanced offensive attack, which saw five players score 13 or more points, the Wizards were unable to contain the Lakers in the final stretch due to their lack of defensive personnel. Shooting guard Jordan Poole led the team with 29 points.

LA’s win secured its third consecutive and eighth in the previous nine matches, increasing the likelihood of securing a top-six spot in the Western Conference. However, the Lakers will probably have to finish the season flawlessly in order to achieve this goal.

With five games left to play, here’s a look at where LA currently stands in the Western Conference playoff race.

LA Lakers Playoff Race: Current Standings and Outlook

Despite their victory against Washington on Wednesday, the Lakers (44-33) continue to hold the ninth spot in the West. They are currently only 1.0 game behind the seventh and eighth-seeded Sacramento Kings (44-31) and Phoenix Suns (44-31). However, the Suns’ record may soon change as they are scheduled to face the Cleveland Cavaliers later tonight.

Furthermore, the LA team is currently trailing the sixth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans (45-31) by only 1.5 games and the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks (45-30) by 2.0 games. This indicates that if the team finishes the season strongly, they have the potential to move up to the fifth seed.

The Lakers are currently holding onto the 9th spot, but there is a possibility that they could fall to 10th place. This is because they only have a 2.0-game lead over the 10th-ranked Golden State Warriors (41-34). Despite this, they can rest assured that they will not drop any lower in the rankings.

LA Lakers Playoff Schedule and Matchups

The Lakers’ remaining schedule is predicted to be challenging as they have the sixth-highest strength of schedule in the NBA, facing opponents with an average winning percentage of. 557.

LA’s final five games include four against teams with a winning record, with a crucial game against New Orleans on April 14.

Therefore, in order to avoid the play-in, the Lakers will most likely have to defeat a few top-level teams.

The Key to the LA Lakers’ Playoff Success: The X-factor

The Lakers’ Rui Hachimura once again proved his worth on Wednesday by scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds with an impressive 75.0% shooting percentage. His consistent role in the starting lineup has proven to be advantageous for LA, with a record of 23-11 since his inclusion and an even more impressive 19-8 record since he became a full-time starter on February 3rd.

In the time since, the Lakers have held the second spot in offensive rating (118.6) thanks to their starting lineup’s consistent ability to perform at a high level. Additionally, in their recent 8-1 run, they have maintained a strong defensive performance, ranking fifth in defensive rating (108.3).

As the postseason approaches, it seems that LA is running at full speed.