The Los Angeles Lakers have been through a lot over the last two years, but they will have a shot at returning to the NBA playoffs after last season turned into an unmitigated disaster.
They ended their regular season by getting past a depleted Utah Jazz squad on Sunday, 128-117, giving them a 43-39 record on the season and seventh place in the Western Conference.
The positioning of several teams in the West was in question until Sunday afternoon, but the Purple and Gold will participate in the play-in tournament against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Tuesday.
A win on Tuesday would give L.A. the seventh seed in the playoffs. If it loses, it will have one more chance to make the playoffs as the eighth seed by facing off against the winner of the New Orleans Pelicans-Oklahoma City Thunder play-in contest.
The Lakers lost two of their three regular season games against Minnesota during the regular season. However, they will be getting some help, as forward Jaden McDaniels, a standout defender, suffered a fractured hand on Sunday.
In addition, Rudy Gobert was sent home by the team after he took a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson.
Over their last few games, the Lakers have seemed somewhat complacent at times. It will be imperative they do not become overconfident or nonchalant against a presumably shorthanded Timberwolves team, especially since anything can happen in one game.
More Latest Lakers News!
Lakers vs. Jazz: Stream, lineups, injury reports and broadcast info for Sunday
Story originally appeared on LeBron Wire
