The NBA Playoffs are nearly here. There are just a week’s worth of regular-season games left to be played, which means playoff scenarios are being played out.
One team looking to make it back into the playoffs for a third straight season is the Los Angeles Lakers. Thanks to the play of LeBron James and the Lakers landing Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade earlier this season, Los Angeles is on-track to do just that.
Although the Lakers’ playoff fate isn’t set in stone just yet, let’s take a look at the playoff scenarios for Los Angeles with just four regular-season games remaining.
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Lakers playoff scenarios 2025
Sitting at 48-30 overall, Los Angeles currently sits in third palace in the Western Conference behind the Thunder and Rockets. The Lakers still have yet to clinch a playoff spot, but it looks like Los Angeles will likely end up with the No. 3 overall seed in the West.
Los Angeles’ final four games come against the Thunder, whom they beat 126-99 on Sunday evening, Dallas, Houston and Portland on Sunday, April 13.
If the Lakers win two of their last four games, they will clinch the No. 3 seed. Just one win will guarantee them a top-six spot.
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There are a few scenarios to keep in mind, with several of them involving the Lakers beating the Thunder. Via PlayoffStatus, Los Angeles will get the No. 4 spot with:
For a No. 5 spot, there are a few different scenarios:
- Lakers beat the Thunder, AND
- Clippers loss to the Spurs, AND
- Warriors loss to the Suns
Or
- Lakers beat the Thunder AND
- Clippers lose to the Spurs AND
- Timberwolves lose to the Bucks
Or
- Lakers beat the Thunder AND
- Warriors lose to the Suns AND
- Timberwolves lose to the Bucks
If Los Angeles just beats the Thunder, but the other elements of the No. 4 seed scenario do not play out, it’ll give them a No. 6 seed.
For a No. 7 seed. The Lakers just need a Clippers loss to the Spurs with a Warriors loss to the Suns OR a Timberwolves loss to the Bucks and a Grizzlies loss to the Hornets.
If Los Angeles loses out, it’s guaranteed a No. 8 spot in the play-in tournament, at the very least.
Lakers standings 2025
Here’s a look at the current Western conference standings as of Monday, April 7, where the Lakers sit third.
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
| 1 | Thunder** | 64-14 | — |
| 2 | Rockets* | 52-27 | 12.5 |
| 3 | Lakers | 48-30 | 16 |
| 4 | Nuggets | 47-32 | 17.5 |
| 5 | Clippers | 46-32 | 18 |
| 6 | Warriors | 46-32 | 18 |
| 7 | Timberwolves | 46-32 | 18 |
| 8 | Grizzlies | 46-32 | 18 |
| 9 | Kings | 38-40 | 26 |
| 10 | Mavericks | 38-41 | 26.5 |
| 11 | Suns | 35-43 | 29 |
**clinched conference
*clinched division
Lakers remaining schedule
Here’s a look at Los Angeles’ remaining four games:
- Tue, April 8: At OKC
- Wed, April 9: At Dallas
- Fri, April 11: vs. Houston
- Sun, April 13: At Portland
Lakers potential playoff opponents
If the season ended today, the Lakers would finish third and draw the No. 6 seed Golden State Warriors.
Since there are a number of scenarios in-play for Los Angeles, it’s a bit hard to tell who they might draw. One likely scenario includes the Lakers drawing the No. 6 Los Angeles Clippers as the No. 3 seed or potentially the No. 5 Golden State Warriors as a No. 4 seed.
