Lakers Playoff Chances 2021: Scenarios For Los Angeles To Avoid NBA Play-In Tournament

The Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff hopes are coming down to the wire in the final week of the regular season. The defending champs have a chance to clinch a 2021 NBA playoff spot before the play-in tournament, but they’ll need a little help from around the league.

With three games left, the Lakers are the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is one game behind the No. 6 seed Dallas Mavericks and No. 5 seed Portland Trail Blazers, both of whom share the same record and hold the tiebreaker over the Lakers.

That means L.A. has to be two games better than Dallas or Portland over the next three games in order to make the playoffs at the conclusion of the regular season.

The most realistic scenario for the Lakers to earn a playoff berth this week involves passing the Blazers in the standings. Portland finishes the season against the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, all of whom own a top-four record in the West.

DALLAS VS. LAL scenarios (same as POR, with both holding the tiebreaker):
- If DAL goes 3-0 or 2-1, they finish ahead of LAL.
- If DAL goes 1-2, LAL have to go 3-0.
- If DAL goes 0-3, LAL could go 2-1.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 12, 2021

If the Blazers go 1-2 over that stretch, the Lakers can make the playoffs by winning their final three games. If somehow Portland has three straight losses, a 2-1 record down the stretch would be good enough to get Los Angeles into the postseason.

The same playoff scenario applies to the Lakers and Mavericks. Dallas has a much easier schedule with matchups against the New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves. All three of those teams are out of the playoff picture.

If Portland and Dallas both finish 2-1 or better, the Lakers will be relegated to the play-in tournament.

The Lakers host the Houston Rockets Wednesday night. Houston has the NBA’s worst record to go along with a six-game losing streak.

Anthony Davis dealt with groin tightness in Tuesday’s win over the New York Knicks, and it’s unknown if he’ll play. LeBron James is expected to return from his ankle injury.

The Lakers face road tests against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday and the Pelicans on Sunday to end the regular season.

If the Lakers finish seeded No. 7-10, they compete in the play-in tournament. Even though that is likely Los Angeles’ fate, the team remains an overwhelming betting favorite to reach the postseason.

As the No. 7 seed, the Lakers would have two chances to win one game in the play-in tournament and make the playoffs.