NBA Playoffs Preview: Possible Scenarios for Both LeBron James and Stephen Curry’s Postseason Qualification

via Imago

The 2023–24 NBA regular season has reached the final stretch, and the stakes could not be higher for the Lakers and Warriors as they meet tonight for the season-series closer. Tuesday’s game marks their final encounter for the regular season, with the Warriors leading the series 2-1. The game is hyped up to be a preview of a potential play-in game; however, if that were to happen, it would mean that one of those two storied franchises would miss the playoffs this season.

If the regular season ended today, the ninth-placed Lakers would meet the tenth-seeded Warriors in Game 2 of the play-in tournament. And we know what that means – the loser is immediately eliminated from playoff contention, so either LeBron James or Stephen Curry will not be in the playoffs this year. But do not fret. That would be the case if the season ended today. But since it’s not, there is also a possible scenario in which both teams make the playoffs.

Following a 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, the Lakers (45-34) are just one and a half games ahead of the Warriors (43-35) and 0.5 games behind the eight-seeded Sacramento Kings (45-33) in the Western Conference standings. If the Lakers win tonight and the Sacramento Kings falter against the OKC Thunder, the Lakers could leapfrog into the eighth seed. If they succeed in holding onto the eighth seed until the regular season ends, the Lakers would then face the seventh seed in Game 1 of the play-in tournament. A win there would secure them the coveted seventh spot in the playoffs.

USA Today via Reuters

Meanwhile, the tenth-place Warriors would have to win two road games, one against the ninth seed and the other against the loser of Game 1 of the play-in tournament, to qualify as the eighth and last team in the playoffs. However, securing a win tonight could prove challenging for the Lakers given their current injury report.

The Lakers’ injury report spells trouble

On Sunday, the Lakers lost more than just the game. In the late-final quarter, Davis went up and completed a putback dunk, and in the process, he took an inadvertent hit from Kyle Anderson in the same eye that he had suffered an injury to three weeks earlier. Following Davis’ departure and without LeBron James, who was out due to flu-like symptoms, the Lakers fell 127-117 at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Lakers injury report currently mentions that both Anthony Davis (eye) and LeBron James (illness) are questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Warriors. However, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, there’s optimism that Davis will suit up tonight. In addition, the Lakers will also be without Jarred Vanderbilt (foot), Jalen Hood-Schifino (Lumbar disc surgery), and Christian Wood (knee).