The Los Angeles Lakers produced a strong effort following the NBA All-Star Game to reach the third seed in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers were looking like a true playoff contender, having won 13 of their last 15 games. The only two losses during that stretch came against the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams are the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
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While LeBron James began to settle in as the No. 3 option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, it could be up to the 22-time All-Star to serve as the leading man for Los Angeles during the first round of the playoffs.
Coach JJ Redick felt confident throughout the season that his team would all come together at the right time for a strong finish.
The Lakers’ roster dealt with various injuries early in the season, making it hard to put out a lineup featuring its top three stars.
The four-time NBA MVP did not play until mid-November, leaving the guards to lead the way early.
Reaves and James are already ineligible for awards, and Doncic will have to appeal for an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge if he doesn’t play in one of the final five games of the season.
Luka Doncic injury update
Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season and his status remains unknown for the postseason.
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Austin Reaves injury update
Reaves suffered an oblique injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for four to six weeks.
What Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injuries mean for Lakers?
Redick will have to piece together an effective lineup built around James.
Marcus Smart would be an option to fill the role of either guard, but he’s also dealing with his own injuries.
Smart has an ankle injury that will keep him out against the Dallas Mavericks on April 5. He has not played since March 21, when he played 31 minutes against the Orlando Magic.
Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard may move into the starting lineup.
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Hachimura is having one of the best seasons of his career from the three-point line, shooting .430 on the season. He’s also started 36 of the 63 games he’s played.
Kennard, a former sixth-man of the year candidate, made his debut with the Lakers on Feb. 7.
Lakers’ remaining regular-season schedule
The Lakers have five games remaining in the regular season. It could prove to be beneficial for Redick and his staff to try different lineups and rotations before the postseason.
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at Dallas Mavericks (Sunday, April 5, 4:30 p.m. PT)
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vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Tuesday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. PT)
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at Golden State Warriors (Thursday, April 9, 7 p.m. PT)
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vs. Phoenix Suns (Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m. PT)
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vs. Utah Jazz (Sunday, April 12, 5:30 p.m. PT)
Lakers’ playoff matchup scenarios
The Lakers are currently the third seed in the Western Conference standings with a 50-27 record. If the season ended on April 4, the Lakers would play the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.
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The Lakers must continue to stay afloat without their guards to remain the third seed. The Denver Nuggets are just half a game behind the Lakers and the Houston Rockets are two games back.
If the Nuggets move ahead of the Lakers, Los Angeles could be matched up with the Rockets in the West’s 4 vs. 5 matchup.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injuries mean for Lakers in playoffs
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