The Los Angeles Lakers officially concluded the 72-game regular season with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans, but their seeding fate in the Western Conference was determined well before their game ended.
The Portland Trail Blazers routed the Denver Nuggets, 132-116, closing the door for any chance of Los Angeles’ hopes at attaining the sixth seed.
The Lakers ending the season as the seventh seed certifies their place in the NBA’s new play-in tournament, revamped with more teams and rules from the tournament they had in the Orlando bubble.
Because the Golden State Warriors knocked off the Memphis Grizzlies in a competition for the eighth seed, the Lakers are now headed for a matchup against their Californian counterparts in the first set of play-in games.
NBA Western Conference Play-in Tournament:
Lakers (7) vs. Warriors (8)
Grizzlies (9) vs. Spurs (10)— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 17, 2021
The winner of the Lakers-Warriors game will officially settle as the seventh seed, and the loser will have to play the winner between the Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs for the eighth seed.
Tipoff for the Lakers-Warriors match is slated for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19.
