Dave McMenaminApr 10, 2026, 11:03 PM ETCloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Bronny, LeBron connect for first son-to-father assist in NBA history (0:19)Bronny, LeBron connect for first son-to-father assist in NBA history (0:19)
LOS ANGELES — Lakers coach JJ Redick doesn’t know what seed his team will earn in the Western Conference playoffs standings, with Nos. 3-5 all in play heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
But he knows that with Luka Doncic sidelined because of a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and Austin Reaves out because of a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury, no one will be afraid of his team.
In fact, Redick believes that the other West teams that still have their seeding to be determined will prefer L.A. as their first-round opponent.
The Lakers hold the tiebreaker over Denver and the Houston Rockets (51-30) by virtue of winning their season series against both teams. Minnesota, which is locked into No. 6, defeated the 5th-seeded Rockets, 136-132, in Houston on Friday.
Though OKC has clinched No. 1 and rested 10 of its players, Denver also sat out seven players — including Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon — on Friday, even though the Nuggets’ seeding is still undecided.
“[Teams] are in a position where they can start looking forward to potential second-round matchups as well,” Redick added. “We see some of those teams rest their entire lineup basically, so they — we can’t be concerned with all of that.
“Again, I’ll say what I told the team yesterday, what I told you guys after the game, we have to figure out the formula and the belief for this group to be successful. And so, that’s our focus for tonight, and that’s going to be our focus on Sunday.”
Bronny, LeBron connect for first son-to-father assist in NBA history (0:19)Bronny, LeBron connect for first son-to-father assist in NBA history (0:19)
Dave McMenaminApr 10, 2026, 11:03 PM ETCloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.Follow on X
The Lakers (52-29) are No. 4 in the West — one game behind the No. 3 Denver Nuggets (53-28).
Denver defeated the West’s No. 1 team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Friday, 127-107.
Without naming any teams, Redick seemed to allude to Denver’s lineup decision.
Bronny, LeBron connect for first son-to-father assist in NBA history (0:19)