Are the Lakers eliminated from playoff contention? [UPDATED]

The Los Angeles Lakers are in serious danger of missing the playoffs as the NBA season comes to a close, but they’re not eliminated yet.

UPDATE (3/6): With a 121-110 loss against the Phoenix Suns the Lakers have officially been eliminated from contention for the playoffs or the play-in tournament. OOF.

The 2021-22 season has not gone the way the Lakers hoped when they landed Russell Westbrook and looked forward to teaming him up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Injuries have complicated matters for Los Angeles but team chemistry has also loomed as a major issue for the team.

The playoffs are far from certain at this point.

Are the Lakers eliminated from playoff contention?

No, but they are are on the edge.

As of Sunday, Apr. 3, the Lakers are in 11th place in the West and not in one of the four play-in spots. Those are occupied by the Timberwolves, Clippers, Pelicans and Spurs.

The Clippers have clinched one of the four play-in spots while the Timberwolves are too far ahead for anyone to catch them. So the Lakers are really battling with the Pelicans and Spurs for the final two spots.

Western Conference playoff standings

1. Phoenix Suns (62-15) –
2. Memphis Grizzlies (55-23) -7.5 GB
3. Golden State Warriors (49-29) -13.5
4. Dallas Mavericks (49-30) -14
5. Utah Jazz (46-32) -16.5
6. Denver Nuggets (46-32) -16.5
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (44-34) -18.5
8. LA Clippers (38-40) -24.5
9. New Orleans Pelicans (34-43) -28
10. San Antonio Spurs (32-45) -30
11. LA Lakers (31-46) -31
12. Sacramento Kings (29-49) -33.5

*Trail Blazers, Thunder, Rockets eliminated

New Orleans is on the verge of clinching their own play-in spot sitting three games ahead of Los Angeles. They own a tiebreaker thanks to a 3-0 series this season.

The Lakers are a game behind the Spurs, who have five games to play. LA only has four games remaining and San Antonio owns the tiebreaker thanks to their better conference record.

That means LA has to get in front of the Spurs straight up in order to make the playoffs.

Lakers remaining games

• at Phoenix
• at Golden State
• vs. Oklahoma City
• at Denver

Spurs remaining games

• vs. Portland
• at Denver
• at Minnesota
• vs. Golden State
• at Dallas

Both teams face opponents eliminated from the playoffs in OKC and Portland. For the Lakers, Phoenix has nothing more to play for but the Warriors and Nuggets could be battling for seeding.

For the Spurs, Denver and Minnesota could have a fight on their hands for the six seed while Dallas and Golden State may be in contention for the three seed.