{"id":708268,"date":"2026-04-11T15:42:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T15:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/708268\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T15:42:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T15:42:37","slug":"lakers-will-either-be-3rd-or-4th-in-nbas-western-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/708268\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers will either be 3rd or 4th in NBA\u2019s Western Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Lakers have already secured homecourt advantage<\/a> for their first round playoff series that\u2019ll start next weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The biggest question that\u2019ll be answered Sunday evening: What seed will the Lakers enter the postseason as?<\/p>\n

With Friday\u2019s win over the Suns, in addition to the results of the games involving the teams around them in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are guaranteed to be a top-four seed in the Western Conference for the playoffs.<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves (48-33) have been locked in as the sixth seed.<\/p>\n

The biggest question that\u2019ll be answered Sunday evening: What seed will the Lakers enter the postseason as? NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Rockets (51-30) became the fifth seed after falling to the Timberwolves on Friday, in addition to the Lakers\u2019 win and the Nuggets\u2019 victory over the top-seeded Thunder locking Houston in at its spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s just a matter of where the Lakers and Nuggets will finish in the standings so the 3-6 and 4-5 playoff West matchups can be set.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Nuggets (53-28) are in control of third seed, but the Lakers (52-29) still have a shot at finishing at No. 3 for the second consecutive season entering the final day of the regular season.<\/p>\n

Lakers finish as the third seed if\u2026<\/p>\n

The Lakers need the Nuggets to drop their regular-season finale to the Spurs on Sunday to have a shot at taking a jump in the standings.<\/p>\n

If the Nuggets lose to the Spurs, the Lakers would need to beat the Jazz on Sunday to claim the third seed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Lakers need the Nuggets to drop their regular-season finale to the Spurs on Sunday to have a shot at taking a jump in the standings. Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Jazz have lost 11 of their last 12 and four of 21 games since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n

If the Lakers finished the season as the third seed, they would match up against the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series for the second consecutive season, while the Nuggets would play the Nuggets in the 4-5 series.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs in the first round in five games last spring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Rockets (51-30) became the fifth seed after falling to the Timberwolves on Friday. AP<\/p>\n

The Lakers own the tiebreaker over the Nuggets for playoffs seeding purposes after winning the regular-season series, 2-1.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also, in this scenario, the Lakers would also finish with their best record in an 82-game regular season since they won 57 games in 2010-11.<\/p>\n

Lakers finish as the fourth seed if\u2026<\/p>\n

The Nuggets beat the Spurs on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Or, if the Lakers lose to the Jazz.<\/p>\n

If either \u2013 or both \u2013 happens, the Lakers would play the Rockets in the 4-5 series, while the Nuggets would play the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n

California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t