23
of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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.
The Lakers’ winning streak has come to an end, with a loss against the Pistons, but they’ve maintained distance from the teams they are bunched up with in the West.
Currently, they remain the third seed and with multiple teams in the standings playing each other this week, they will be gaining ground on a couple of these rivals.
Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the conference:
3. Lakers — 46-26, 11 GB
4. Nuggets — 44-28, 13 GB
5. Wolves — 44-28, 13 GB
6. Rockets — 43-28, 13.5 GB
7. Suns — 40-32, 17 GB
While the Lakers have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games, the rest of their competition has meandered in mediocrity. The Wolves, Rockets and Suns have gone 5-5, and the Nuggets have only been slightly better at 6-10.
With just 10 or so games left on the season, another strong week for LA could all but secure homecourt for the opening round of the playoffs.
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
Nuggets at Suns — At this point, it seems Phoenix is destined for the play-in. So, Lakers fans should be rooting for the Suns to beat the Nuggets.
Denver’s potential as a title contender is obvious, but they’ve been up and down recently, beating top teams like the Spurs, but then losing to tankers like the Grizzlies.
If the Suns come out aggressive early, they can absolutely win this game.
Wednesday
Mavs at Nuggets — Dallas has no incentive to win, so fans have no incentive to watch.
Rockets at Wolves — This is a tough one to figure out what is best for the Lakers. They have the tiebreaker over each team, but who do they want to play? If Houston is the desired opponent, then them losing is what’s best. If the playoffs started now, they’d be playing the Lakers in the first round.
However, if a rematch with the Wolves is desired, an opposite outcome would help set it up.
Regardless, this should be a very entertaining game to watch.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
The Lakers, currently third in the Western Conference at 46-26, recently ended their winning streak with a loss to the Pistons but remain well-positioned for the playoffs. With several competitors faltering, including the Nuggets and Rockets, a strong finish could secure home court advantage for LA. Upcoming crucial games include the Nuggets facing the Suns and a matchup between the Rockets and Wolves, both of which impact the Lakers’ playoff strategy. Fans should watch these games closely as they could influence LA’s playoff seeding.
Want More Context? 🔎
