Lakers Finish Fourth in West as NBA Postseason Begins

LeBron James and the Lakers locked up home court, but will be without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves for the first round against the Rockets.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured, multi-perspective view of a basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the dynamic action on the court.The Lakers' postseason hopes rest on their ability to overcome key injuries and find a path to victory against the Rockets.New Orleans Today

The Los Angeles Lakers secured the fourth seed in the Western Conference for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, despite battling injuries to key players like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Under head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have had back-to-back 50-win seasons, making them one of the most consistent teams in the West over the past two years. However, with Dončić and Reaves likely to miss most or all of the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, the Lakers are not expected to go far in the postseason.

Why it matters

The Lakers' fourth-place finish in the West secures them home-court advantage in the first round, but their injury situation could prove challenging as they face the Rockets. The team's consistency under Redick's leadership has been impressive, but their ability to overcome key absences will be tested in the playoffs.

The details

The Lakers locked up the fourth seed in the Western Conference despite injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. The team will face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, with Dončić and Reaves likely to miss most or all of the series. Under head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have had back-to-back 50-win seasons, making them one of the most consistent teams in the West over the past two years.

  • The 2025-26 NBA regular season has just come to an end.
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The players

LeBron James

A veteran superstar and leader of the Lakers team.

Luka Dončić

A star player for the Lakers who is likely to miss most or all of the first-round series against the Rockets due to injury.

Austin Reaves

A key player for the Lakers who is also likely to miss most or all of the first-round series against the Rockets due to injury.

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Lakers, who has led the team to back-to-back 50-win seasons.

Houston Rockets

The Lakers' first-round playoff opponent.

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What they’re saying

“Even with key pieces missing, the Lakers still have LeBron, home court and a head coach in JJ Redick who will do everything he can to put LA in an advantageous situation.”

— Edwin Garcia, Author

What’s next

The Lakers will face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves likely to miss most or all of the series due to injury.

The takeaway

The Lakers' consistency under head coach JJ Redick has been impressive, but their ability to overcome key injuries to Dončić and Reaves will be tested as they face the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. The team's home-court advantage may not be enough to overcome the loss of their star players.