Live discussion: Will the Lakers make the playoffs?

Times Lakers writer Mike Bresnahan and NBA editor Barry Stavro got together Wednesday morning to discuss the final day of the NBA’s regular season. They also answered viewer questions. You can watch a replay of the discussion above.

The Clippers are in the playoffs, so most eyes will be on the Lakers tonight, as they take on the Houston Rockets with a playoff spot on the line. Win, and the Lakers are in; lose, they might be out, depending on the outcome of the Utah-Memphis game.

As Bresnahan wrote on Tuesday,

“The Lakers, winners of four consecutive games, want to beat Houston for numerous reasons.

“Momentum, obviously, could be carried into the postseason, but the Lakers would also match up better against San Antonio than top-seeded Oklahoma City in the first round.

“The Lakers defeated the Spurs on Sunday, 91-86 — their first game since losing Kobe Bryant for the season because of a torn Achilles’ tendon — and played well in two earlier losses to San Antonio by a combined five points.

“A playoff matchup against Oklahoma City, on the other hand, is not favorable. The Lakers have lost their last six games in Oklahoma City by an average of 14 points.

“Small footnote: A Lakers victory Wednesday also means they potentially wouldn’t face the Thunder until the conference finals, as if it wouldn’t be a challenge for them to even think about getting that far.”

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