The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Washington Wizards at Staples Center on Tuesday, where they’ll have the perfect chance to improve their odds at the NBA Draft Lottery.
Just 2.5 games separate the 23rd-ranked Wizards and 21st-ranked Lakers in the standings. A loss to Washington on Tuesday would shrink that gap, giving L.A. a better chance to slide a few spots down in the standings.
A Wizards win would also guarantee that Washington ends the season with at least 31 wins. With the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks on their remaining schedule, they could feasibly end the season with more wins than the Lakers, who have the fifth-hardest remaining schedule, according to Tankathon.