The Los Angeles Lakers handled business on their end, taking care of the New Orleans Pelicans 110-98 on the road Sunday in the team’s final, regular season game of the year.
The Lakers needed some help to reach the No. 6 seed, and did not get from the Denver Nuggets, who lost to the Portland Trail Blazers by 16 points.
And with the Dallas Mavericks losing on the road to the Minnesota Timberwolves by 15 points, all three teams finished at 42-30.
The Mavericks grabbed the No. 5 seed by virtue of winning the Southwest Division. Dallas will face the Los Angeles Clippers, the No. 4 seed.
The Blazers earn the No. 6 seed because of their season series win over the Lakers. Portland will face the No. 3 seed, the Nuggets in the first round.
The leaves the Lakers as the No. 7 seed, hosting No. 8 seed the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, 7 p.m. local time at the Staples Center in the play-in game. The winner moves on as the No. 7 seed in the first round of the playoffs, where they will face the No. 2 seed, the Phoenix Suns.
