Preview: Lakers Week 25 predictions

The Lakers head into Week 25, the final week of the season, with a seven-game losing streak.

Should the Lakers lose their final two games, they would climb into at least a tie with the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics for the fourth-worst record in the NBA.

While the season hasn’t exactly been fun for their fans to watch, the Lakers should be rewarded with a top prospect in June’s NBA draft.

Injuries have been the story, with Pau Gasol (vertigo), Chris Kaman (calf), Kobe Bryant (knee), Steve Nash (nerve root irritation), Xavier Henry (knee) and Kent Bazemore (foot) off the court.

Through 80 games, the Lakers have just 25 wins, four behind cumulative expectations at 25-55.

Monday at Utah Jazz

If the Lakers lose to the Jazz on Monday, both teams would have 25-56 records.

Utah should have the advantage, playing at home against a team on the second night of a back-to-back.

If the Lakers win, they would fall back to six, assuming the Celtics (25-55) don’t win another game.

Should the Jazz beat the Lakers but lose in Minnesota on Wednesday, along with two straight losses from the Celtics -- the three franchises would finish tied.

The NBA would then flip coins to determine the order going into the lottery, which would set the position of teams that don’t win a top-three lottery pick.

Prediction: Jazz

Wednesday at San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs (62-18) have locked in the NBA’s top record.

Under normal circumstances, San Antonio should make short work of the Lakers, however in preparation for the playoffs Coach Gregg Popovich may elect to sit some of his primary players.

Then again, the Spurs are pretty dangerous with players like Patty Mills getting big minutes.

The Lakers are also likely to have at least six players out, which should be enough to finish the season on a nine-game losing streak.

Prediction: Spurs

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D-Fenders fall in D-League playoffs, swept by Santa Cruz Warriors

Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.