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Mar 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) reacts after scoring the three point basket and draws the foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Can the Lakers’ 5-Game Win Streak Signal That They’re The Western Conference’s Best?

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Jarred Thomas | Last updated Mar 17, 2026 2:59 PM ET

Trailing by two points with just over five seconds remaining in ABC’s primetime game of the week vs. the Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers Austin Reaves nonchalantly went through his free-throw dribble routine, and in a split second intentionally missed his second free throw, and then proceeded to grab his own rebound and knock down a swift floater to tie the game with under two seconds left to send this decisive game into overtime. The Lakers then capitalized on the late-game heroics by Reaves with a Luka Doncic step-back jumper to officially give LA the 3rd seed in a tough Western Conference after their fifth win in a row.

The Lakers Playoff Projections

Since the beginning of March, Los Angeles has won seven out of the last eight games, including the current five-game winning streak, with wins over fellow Western Conference foes such as the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Luka Doncic and his squad have shot themselves back to the top of the Western Conference, securing the three-seed after last night’s electric overtime win. This streak has completely changed the Lakers’ trajectory, going from a likely Play-In team to the current third seed, where they now have a 99% probability of making the postseason and have officially acquired the tie-breaker over the Nuggets, putting themselves in a premium position to maintain home-court advantage, at least for the first round.

The Lakers Are Stuffing Stat Sheets Unlike They Have All Season Long

During this winning streak, the Lakers have looked like a completely different team lately. Not only are the players telling us they are feeling good and things are starting to click, but the numbers are backing up their claims entirely. Los Angeles has been known for being a weaker team on the defensive end all season long, but over the last five games, the Lakers have a defensive rating of 108.5, which would be ranked inside the top five teams, a metric they have been ranked in the bottom ten teams all season. On the other end, they have been elite as of late, ranking second in true shooting percentage with 60.7% with an offensive rating of 121.1, easily slotting them in the top 5 compared to the rest of the NBA.

Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) with guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

So How Are They Winning?

According to Lakers’ head coach, J.J. Redick has stated the team has pivoted from trying to outscore their opponents to a “high-stakes playoff mode” mentality focused on defensive accountability and focusing on the process over the actual outcome. The recent shift in team emphasis has begun to really pay off for the Lakers’ elite offensive trio who have really taken their offensive production to another level while players like DeAndre Ayton, Jared Vanderbilt, and Marcus Smart have stepped up late in a big way on the defensive end, freeing the Lakers trio to preserve their energy to take over games in late which has been a huge part in their 14-2 record in late game situations. Moving Rui Hachimura to the bench has proved to be a huge lift for the team on both sides of the ball.

Lakers Big Three Are Peaking

This gives Smart more minutes with the starting rotation to put pressure on elite offensive guards and allows the trio to exert a significant chunk of their energy putting the ball in the basket on the offensive end. Luka, in particular, during the last five has been playing like the best player in the league. Averaging a 38-point triple-double and making that necessary extra effort on the defensive end, all while doing so. Whilst teammate Austin Reaves has thrived in his secondary role, ranking second in the entire league in true shooting percentage, proving he is taking advantage of the open looks opponents give him.

End Of My Lakers Rant

The Lakers are clearly built on a clear offensive hierarchy and are continuing to improve on the defensive end in ways to allow their stars to stay focused on their primary roles. They continue to win tough games against the top teams but the difference between Los Angeles right now compared to early in the season is the WAY that they are winning games can paint a picture to future playoff success.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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