What Lakers Need To Clinch 3rd Seed In Western Conference

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a strong position to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, and after their stunning 126-99 road demolition of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the momentum is firmly in their favor. At 48-30 with four games remaining, the Lakers control their destiny and are poised to lock up a top-three finish for the first time since their 2020 championship season.

What makes their situation even more favorable is the fact that they already hold the tiebreaker advantage over all five teams chasing them—Denver, Golden State, the Clippers, Minnesota, and Memphis. 

The Lakers swept or won the season series against the Clippers, Warriors, and Grizzlies. Against the Nuggets and Timberwolves, they split the series 2-2, but as the Pacific Division champions, the Lakers win the multi-team tiebreakers due to their division crown. That’s a massive edge in a tight playoff race where standings could shift dramatically in the final week.

Simply put, the Lakers only need to win one of their final four games to secure a top-six finish and avoid the play-in tournament altogether. But the path to the No. 3 seed is even clearer. 

If they go 2-2 in their remaining schedule, they’re almost certain to lock in the third spot, even in potential multi-team tie scenarios with Denver and Minnesota. Because the Lakers would be the only division winner in that three-way mix, they'd still rise to the top.

The dream of catching the Houston Rockets for the No. 2 seed is mathematically alive but incredibly unlikely. The Rockets, sitting at 51-27, would have to lose all three of their remaining games while the Lakers would need to win out. Given Houston’s consistency this season, it’s a long shot at best.

The Lakers' upcoming games aren’t easy, but they’re all winnable. They’ll face OKC again, then travel to face the Mavericks, then face the Rockets and end the regular season against the Blazers. However, after dismantling the Thunder, confidence is surging through this group. 

Luka Doncic looks revitalized and is coming off a 30-point outing where he dissected the Thunder defense. LeBron James continues to lead with poise, and Austin Reaves has emerged as a deadly third option. The role players have also found rhythm—Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent were perfect examples in the win over OKC, combining for efficient scoring and tenacious defense.

JJ Redick deserves credit for engineering a creative offensive game plan that exploited OKC’s defensive pressure with smart ball movement and timely spacing. The Lakers shot 55% from three and completely controlled the tempo, making a statement against the league’s No. 1 seed.

The Lakers have already surpassed their win total from last season and secured their best regular season since 2020. With the playoffs looming, clinching the third seed would not only guarantee home-court in the first round but also send a message to the league: this team is no longer treading water—they’re charging full speed ahead.