NBA POWER RANKINGS – LAKERS #6 https://t.co/1nNxqSRJIK— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 23, 2026
NBA POWER RANKINGS – LAKERS #6
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March 23, 2026 3 Comments
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by March 23, 2026 3 Comments
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1. Thunder
2. Spurs
3. Pistons
4. Knicks
5. Celtics
6. Lakers
7. Nuggets
8. Rockets
9. Cavs
10. Timberwolves
FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:
#6
Los Angeles Lakers
Last Week:6
Record: 46-25
OffRtg: 117.0 (8)
DefRtg: 115.7 (20)
NetRtg: +1.3 (13)
Pace: 99.3 (21)
The Lakers continue to roll, sweeping two huge games in Houston and then two in Florida to run their winning streak to nine games and put themselves in good position to finish third in the West.
Three takeaways
Each of the Lakers’ last five games has been within five points in the last five minutes, and they’ve scored 66 points on 50 clutch offensive possessions (1.32 per) over that stretch. Luka Dončić has led the way with 24 clutch points (hitting some ridiculous shots) and five clutch assists over that stretch, but Deandre Ayton has also had some big buckets and big offensive rebounds, and JJ Redick gets credit for the play design that got Luke Kennard a wide-open 3 for the win in Orlando on Saturday. The Lakers are now tied for the fourth-best clutch record (22-6, .786) in the 30 seasons for which we have clutch data.
The Lakers were 34-24 through their first 58 games, but had been outscored by 4.9 points per 100 possessions in 238 minutes with Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James on the floor together. As they’ve won 12 of their last 13, they’ve outscored opponents by 18.3 per 100 in the trio’s 216 minutes together, with the bigger difference (109.6 vs. 124.3 scored per 100) coming on offense.
The Lakers now own the head-to-head tie-breakers with the Rockets (2-1), Nuggets (2-1) and Wolves (3-0). Houston has the slightly easier remaining schedule, but the Lakers also have more games remaining against teams currently below .500 (six) than they have against teams currently above (five).
Coming up: One of the Lakers’ five remaining games against teams with winning records is in Detroit on Monday, when the Pistons will be without Cade Cunningham. He had 27 points and 11 assists as the Pistons won the first meeting by 22.
Week 23: @ DET, @ IND, vs. BKN