The Los Angeles Lakers will play the rest of the regular season without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and could also miss LeBron James for at least a game based on his current injury status.
However, based on where the Lakers sit in the standings, closing out the year with the current seeding might actually be good news for the team looking to advance past the first round in order to get Doncic and Reaves back healthy.
Still, playing without their top two scorers isn’t a good thing, as well as the fact that they might miss out on home-court advantage, but based on the current playoff seeding in the Western Conference, the Lakers could be lined up for a favorable first-round matchup.
Lakers Get Good News With Current Playoff Seeding And Scenarios
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Currently, the Lakers are fourth in the West, dropping from the third seed, which they held for a few weeks after a 15-2 run in March. Now, while Denver Nuggets are third, Los Angeles can still only drop down to fifth, which is good news for a few reasons, despite the Doncic and Reaves injuries.
There’s a few playoff scenarios they have yet to play out, but with just three games on the schedule, the Lakers are currently slated to play the Houston Rockets in the ‘4-5’ matchup in the first round of the postseason.
All signs point to the Lakers wanting to play the Rockets, as since the Kevin Durant burner scandal over All-Star weekend, that team hasn’t looked the same, and has major trouble closing out games in the fourth quarter, leaning on their 37-year-old star.
Additionally, the Minnesota Timberwolves look bound for the sixth seed, as without Anthony Edwards, they have a tough remaining strength of schedule. Based on how things went in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, a 4-1 dominant series win by the Timberwolves, the Lakers would be fine missing the third seed to avoid the ‘3-6’ playoff matchup against the team up North.
For now, Denver looks like it will hold onto the third seed, setting them up with a date against Minnesota in the first round.
As for the Lakers, they can’t finish lower than fifth, meaning either fourth or fifth in the West would all but guarantee a series against Houston.
A bit complicated, sure, but what is clear is this: the Lakers won’t want to play the Nuggets or Timberwolves in the first round. Based on the current playoff seeding, the expected matchup against the Rockets would be ideal.
If Los Angeles can get out of the first round, it doesn’t guarantee a return for either Doncic or Reaves, but it increases the chances of them coming back, as head coach JJ Redick said.
“Both those guys are going to try to come back. So it’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back,” he said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Lakers Injury Report With Latest Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James Updates
GettyLOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 14, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) react towards Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) after Doncic scored the game winning basket in overtime against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Doncic, Reaves, James, and Marcus Smart make up the Lakers’ injury report in the lead-up to their game on Tuesday night.
Doncic is currently in Spain, reportedly getting stem cell treatment on a grade two hamstring strain he suffered against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He does not have a timeline for a return, and based on hamstring injuries suffered by other NBA players, he could miss up to 40 days with a high chance of re-injury after a return.
As for Reaves, he suffered an oblique injury in that same game. He is officially listed as out for the next four to six weeks, but as Redick said for both, the Lakers expect the two backcourt stars to return if they can extend their season.
Smart also remains on the injury report with an ankle injury. Despite Redick saying he believed the guard would return soon, he is out for Tuesday against the Thunder, set to miss his eighth game in a row for Los Angeles.
James was a recent addition to the injury report, officially questionable for the team’s next game with ‘left foot injury management.’ The 41-year-old has been sidelined with several injuries this season, and based on the Lakers’ last game against Oklahoma City, it is fair to say they are fine giving James rest and not risking any other injuries.
Additionally, as mentioned before, the Lakers don’t need to get a win against the Thunder. All they need to do is find a victory in at least one of their last three games of the year, and hope the Rockets can lose at least two, but even that won’t change the expected playoff matchup.
Right now, a date with Houston in the first round feels extremely likely, all that is left to be decided is which team will have home-court advantage.
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