With the Western Conference a tight-knit race yet again this season, this series will look at the standings and games to watch across the league as the Lakers look to secure home court and move up the standings.
As we enter the final days of the NBA regular season, plenty remains to be decided, even as the picture is getting clearer.
The Suns are all but out of the playoff race. They need just one more loss to be cemented as a play-in team. Considering that there are seven games left and the Suns have
gone 4-6 over their last ten games, they are no longer a team the Lakers, Wolves, Nuggets, or Rockets have to worry about.
Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the conference:
3. Lakers — 49-26, 10.5 GB
4. Nuggets — 48-28, 12 GB
5. Wolves — 46-29, 13.5 GB
6. Rockets — 45-29, 14 GB
The Nuggets have been in top form, winning six straight games. With the Rockets also going undefeated this past weekend, the pressure on the Lakers to keep winning has only increased.
Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Lakers fans should be rooting for.
Tuesday
Knicks at Rockets — Cheering for a New York win isn’t a bad place for Lakers fans to be in. The Knicks are a top team in the East and the Rockets have been up and down this season. If Jalen Brunson goes off and Karl-Anthony Towns plays well, they can walk out of Houston with a win.
Wednesday
Nuggets at Jazz — Utah isn’t going to win this game. This is why NBA commissioner Adam Silver is focused on discouraging tanking. This season, though the incentive is there for the Jazz to lose, so that’s what they’ll do.
Bucks at Rockets — Milwaukee is a disaster zone, with Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors dominating their coverage and the on-court product mustering up just 29 wins. So, don’t expect them to beat Houston, even though they are playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
Thursday
Wolves at Pistons — Detroit has been the best team in the East all season long. They always play hard, which the Lakers recently witnessed first-hand. This time, the Pistons’ quality can help the Lakers create some distance from the Wolves.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
