LOS ANGELES — The Lakers took down the short-handed Rockets in the final home game of the regular season on Friday to clinch the third seed in the Western Conference, beating Houston 140-109 for their 50th win of the season—reaching 50 wins for the first time since the 2019-2020 championship bubble season.
The seed-clinching victory came behind a masterful showing from their big three: Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. A foreshadowing of what's to come in the postseason with now home-court advantage and a week off rest until playoffs begin.
This is the first time in L.A.'s last three playoff appearances they will not take part in the play-in tournament.
"This will be my first time having home-court advantage," Dončić said. "I'm really excited about it. That was our goal... our goal was to lock up the third seed."
The Lakers will host the opening game of the first round at Crypto.com Arena for the first time since the 2012 season.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick walked into the postgame press conference still wet with a fresh Philadelphia Eagles sweater on, as opposed to his normal Lakers athletic tee. What for? from the eight buckets of ice that were dumped on him in celebration of L.A. securing their highest seed in five years.
But even with the Lakers ending the regular season accomplishing just what they set out to do, the first-year head coach emphasized the team's job is yet to be done: "There's still so much work we have to do."
Yes, there is.
The Lakers will potentially match up against Golden State or Minnesota in the first round, who will both be battling to secure positions in the final standings with one game left on Sunday.
The star trio opened up the game, combining for 31 of L.A.’s first 38 points. Their surge carried over into the second quarter, totaling 52 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists of the Lakers' first-half production. James would only play three minutes into the second half, finishing with 14 points (eight assists) in 22 minutes.
The Lakers momentum continued in the second half, taking advantage of a Houston team that rested six key contributors with the second seed already locked up. Dončić and Reaves would carry the load, reaching their biggest lead of the game (31) in the fourth.
Dončić finished with 39 points (eight rebounds, seven assists) on an efficient 68.4% (13-of-19) shooting from the floor—his 25th 30-point game this season. Reaves added 23 points (seven rebounds, six assists) in 33 minutes.
The Lakers will play their final game of the regular season on Sunday in Portland and will likely rest a majority of their top rotation.