Lakers Playoff Hopes Depend on Luka Doncic

The regular season ends in three days, and the playoff picture still isn’t finished. The West has its playoff teams set, but seeding is still moving. In the East, five teams are fighting for the final two playoff spots after Thursday’s Lakers-Warriors game. Oklahoma City and San Antonio look like the West’s top Finals threats, with Victor Wembanyama leading a much-improved Spurs group. The Lakers need Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves back from hamstring and oblique injuries to make a real run. Detroit has locked up the No. 1 seed in the East, but Boston has surged since Jayson Tatum returned. A Celtics-Knicks matchup could decide the conference.