Lakers clinch playoff spot
The Los Angeles Lakers secured their 50th win and officially clinched a playoff berth with a late‑season surge — locking in a top Western Conference seed as the regular season winds down. ( )
Los Angeles wrapped the game at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 with a 127-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers that pushed the team to 50-26 on the season. (espn.com)) Luka Dončić led the attack with 42 points and 12 assists, Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds, and Austin Reaves scored 19 in the victory. (abcnews.com)) LeBron James picked up career win No. 1,229 in the game, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most combined regular-season and playoff wins in NBA history. (cbssports.com)) The Lakers’ division title and guaranteed top-six placement were confirmed the same night after the Phoenix Suns lost to the Orlando Magic, a result the NBA noted as clinching LA’s spot in the West’s top six. (abcnews.com)) CBS Sports’ playoff picture lists the Lakers as the No. 3 seed at 50-26 and shows Los Angeles owning the relevant tiebreakers over Denver, Minnesota and Houston. (cbssports.com)) With the SoFi Play‑In set to begin April 14 and the playoffs scheduled to start April 18, the bracket projection currently pairs a No. 3 Lakers first‑round matchup with the No. 6 Houston Rockets if the standings hold. (nba.com))
