The Los Angeles Lakers are doing their best to avoid the play-in tournament, winning three straight games in the final stretch of the regular season. Unfortunately for the defending champions, they aren’t getting much help from their competition in the playoff race.

The Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks were all victorious Wednesday night, leaving the Western Conference standings unchanged. The No. 5-seed Blazers and No. 6-seed Mavericks still share the same record and a one-game lead over No. 7 seeded Lakers. The Blazers and Mavericks also own the tiebreaker with L.A. with two games left in the regular season.

The magic number for Portland and Dallas to clinch a playoff spot is down to one. That means any combination of a Blazers’ win or a Lakers loss puts Portland in the postseason and out of the play-in tournament. The same scenario exists for the Mavericks.

As the No. 7 seed, the Lakers would have two chances to win one game in the play-in tournament and secure a playoff berth.

There’s a good chance the Lakers won’t lose again in the regular season. Los Angeles visits the Indiana Pacers on Saturday and the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. LeBron James and Anthony Davis didn’t play Wednesday against the Houston Rockets. The superstar duo could be back on the court this weekend.

Portland visits the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night and finishes the season at home against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Phoenix and Denver are two of the West’s top four teams. The Nuggets likely won’t have anything on the line in the season finale.

Dallas finishes the season against a pair of teams that are out of contention. The Mavericks will host the Toronto Raptors and visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Denver has a 4.5-game edge over Portland as the No. 4 seed. The two teams are currently set to meet in the first round of the playoffs.

The Mavericks are currently on track for a series with the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Clippers.

In the play-in tournament, the Lakers would face the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies.

Anthony Davis #3 and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts as they are helped up off the floor by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 and Andre Drummond #2, after their collision, during the first quarter against the LA Clippers at Staples Center
Anthony Davis #3 and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts as they are helped up off the floor by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 and Andre Drummond #2, after their collision, during the first quarter against the LA Clippers at Staples Center Getty Images | Harry How
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