Lakers playoff standings: Updated scenarios, schedule for L.A. in 2026 NBA bracket

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Lakers playoff standings: Updated scenarios, schedule for L.A. in 2026 NBA bracket originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers have clinched a playoff berth.

The Lakers are headed back to the postseason for the fourth year in a row. With the regular season winding down, Los Angeles has not only secured a spot in the postseason but is also guaranteed to avoid the play-in tournament, meaning that the Lakers will appear in at least the first round.

This is an important distinction because Los Angeles will head into the playoffs missing some key players. Both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be sidelined at the start of the playoffs, and the remaining healthy Lakers will need to keep the team's championship hopes alive until they return. The seed that Los Angeles ends up with, and its subsequent first-round opponent, could be hugely important with the injuries.

Here is more on the updated scenarios and schedule for the Lakers in the 2026 NBA playoff bracket.

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Lakers playoff scenarios 2026​

The Lakers have already punched their ticket to the playoffs. Los Angeles has not only clinched a playoff berth but has already locked down the Pacific Division title. Granted, in the NBA, winning the division isn't tied to a specific playoff seed cutoff like the NFL, but the Lakers are still in a good position.

With three regular-season games to go, Los Angeles is 50-29, and since playoff seeding is based on win percentage, even if the Lakers were to lose out with their injury concerns, they could not fall below the No. 5 seed.

Los Angeles could end up with the same record as the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the Lakers swept the season series 3-0 and would own that tiebreaker, preventing them from being the No. 6 seed. However, the Lakers don't control their destiny to the No. 3 seed, with the Nuggets having the upper hand by one win.

Los Angeles is guaranteed to fall somewhere between the No. 3 seed and No. 6 seed in the Western Conference for the 2026 playoffs.

MORE: Why is Luka Doncic going to Europe to get treatment on his injured hamstring?

Lakers standings 2026​

These standings are updated after the games finished on Tuesday, April 7.

Seed	Team	Wins	Losses	Games Back
1	Thunder	63	16	--
2	Spurs	60	19	3
3	Nuggets	51	28	12
4	Lakers	50	29	13
5	Rockets	50	29	13
6	Timberwolves	47	32	16
7	Suns	43	36	20
8	Clippers	41	38	22
9	Trail Blazers	40	39	23
10	Warriors	37	42	26

MORE: How Luka Doncic's injury impacts Lakers playoff chances, NBA MVP odds

Lakers remaining schedule​

Here are the games that the Lakers have left in the 2025-2026 regular season.

• Thursday, April 9 at Warriors
• Friday, April 10 vs. Suns
• Sunday, April 12 vs. Jazz

MORE: How long is Austin Reaves out?

Lakers potential playoff opponents​

With the Lakers locked into the No. 3, 4, or 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, it narrows their possible first-round opponents.

Even with three games left, a lot can shift and change, but currently, the Lakers could play either the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets or Houston Rockets in the first round.

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