Lakers’ Seven-Game Streak Lifts Club to No. 3 Seed, but First-Round Obstacles Remain
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The Los Angeles Lakers have strung together seven straight victories and 10 wins in their last 11 outings, all against teams currently in playoff position, tightening their grip on the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed as March winds down.
Despite the surge, the margin for error is slim. Only a few games separate Los Angeles from the conference’s middle tier, leaving the club uncertain about its opening playoff opponent. As of now, three possibilities stand out: the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets.
Timberwolves could return
Minnesota eliminated the Lakers last postseason by leaning on size and physicality. Los Angeles hopes new faces can shift that dynamic. Center Deandre Ayton offers enough interior presence to make Rudy Gobert work across a seven-game series, while guard Marcus Smart supplies additional perimeter defense aimed at disrupting Anthony Edwards. The Lakers also won the regular-season series against Minnesota, a small but notable data point.
Familiar problem in Denver
Denver remains a more daunting matchup. Reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokić continues to dictate tempo and shot selection; even in games Los Angeles wins, it often feels as if the Lakers are hanging on. Stretching that tug-of-war across an entire series raises concerns in the Lakers’ locker room.
Unpredictable Rockets
Houston represents the wild card. Kevin Durant headlines a talented but volatile roster capable of dramatic swings. Los Angeles would enter with a heavy edge in postseason experience, yet the Rockets’ capacity for chaos could erase that advantage quickly.
For now, the Lakers own one of the league’s hottest streaks, but the true test arrives when playoff matchups crystallize and the calendar turns from March momentum to late-spring survival.
Source: Hoops Wire
