Lakers Clinch Home Court Advantage for Playoffs' First Round with Win Over Suns

LeBron James leads Lakers to 101-73 victory, securing homecourt for first-round playoff series.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:38am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes in the Lakers' purple and gold colors overlapping to create a dynamic, energetic composition.The Lakers' crucial victory over the Suns secures home-court advantage for the playoffs' first round, a significant boost as the team navigates a challenging postseason path.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Lakers secured homecourt advantage for the first round of the NBA playoffs with a 101-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. LeBron James led the way for the Lakers, recording 28 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 32 minutes of play. The win, coupled with the Houston Rockets' loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, ensures the Lakers will finish no worse than the 4th seed in the Western Conference.

Why it matters

The Lakers' win over the Suns keeps them in contention for the 3rd seed in the West, which would give them homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. This is crucial for the Lakers, who have been plagued by injuries to key players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves late in the season.

The details

The Lakers dominated the Suns, leading by as many as 23 points in the second half. In addition to LeBron's big night, Luke Kennard added 19 points and 3 assists, while Rui Hachimura chipped in 13 points. The Suns struggled without star guard Devin Booker, grabbing 18 offensive rebounds but only converting them into 27 second-chance points.

  • The Lakers improved to a 52-29 record with the win on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • The Rockets' loss to the Timberwolves on Friday locked them in as the 5th seed in the West.
  • If the Nuggets beat the Spurs on Sunday, they would secure the 3rd seed. If the Nuggets lose and the Lakers beat the Jazz on Sunday, the Lakers would finish as the 3rd seed.

The players

LeBron James

The 41-year-old Lakers superstar led the team with 28 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 32 minutes of play. James has been crucial in keeping the Lakers afloat after injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Marcus Smart

The veteran guard made his return from a right ankle contusion, scoring 6 points with 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in his first game since March 21.

Deandre Ayton

The Suns' center finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“I had to tap back into a role that I've been accustomed to in the past, but obviously it wasn't what it was this year. But circumstances have put me back in there and I'm just trying to feed off my teammates, teammates are feeding off of me and just trying to make things happen for us to continue to stay afloat.”

— LeBron James

“We can't be worried about our playoff seeding considering the circumstances we're in.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Coach

What’s next

If the Nuggets beat the Spurs on Sunday, they would secure the 3rd seed in the West. If the Nuggets lose and the Lakers beat the Jazz on Sunday, the Lakers would finish as the 3rd seed.

The takeaway

The Lakers' win over the Suns, coupled with the Rockets' loss, ensures they will have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. This is a crucial advantage for the Lakers, who have dealt with significant injuries late in the season and will need every advantage they can get to make a deep playoff run.