Trying to wrap your head around all the different playoff scenarios is enough to melt your brain.

But as far as the Lakers are concerned, here’s what you need to know:

If the Lakers beat Utah in their regular season finale on Sunday, they can technically still get the No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in IF:

– Golden State lose their final regular season game

– The Pelicans, Clippers, Warriors and Lakers don’t all finish with 43 wins, as the Lakers would wind up third in a four-way tiebreaker with those teams (and finish in the play-in as a result).

The problem for the Lakers is that the Warriors are playing the Blazers to round out the regular season on Sunday, so LA’s hopes of Golden State losing that game are slim.

But one can always dare to dream.

 

 

 

How Does the NBA Play-In Tournament Work?

Here is an overview and schedule of the games in each conference, via NBA.com.

APRIL 11
> GAME 1: EAST 7 VS. EAST 8
> GAME 2: WEST 7 VS. WEST 8

The team with the seventh-highest winning percentage in its conference will host the team with the eighth-highest winning percentage in the same conference. The winning team will be the seventh seed in the NBA Playoffs for its conference. The losing team will still have a chance to earn the eighth seed in the NBA Playoffs for its conference.

APRIL 12
> GAME 3: EAST 9 VS. EAST 10
> GAME 4: WEST 9 VS. WEST 10

The team with the ninth-highest winning percentage in its conference will host the team with the 10th-highest winning percentage in the same conference. The winning team will remain in contention to earn the eighth seed in the NBA Playoffs for its conference. The losing team will be eliminated.

APRIL 14
> GAME 5: EAST LOSER 7/8 VS. EAST WINNER 9/10
> GAME 6: WEST LOSER 7/8 VS. WEST WINNER 9/10

In each conference, the teams losing on April 11 will host the winning teams from April 12. The winning team of of this game will be the eighth seed in the NBA Playoffs for its conference. The losing team will be eliminated.