The Western Conference is a bloodbath right now. Honestly, if you're looking at the nba standings today lakers fans are probably feeling a weird mix of "we're fine" and "we're one losing streak away from a disaster." As of Saturday, January 17, 2026, the Los Angeles Lakers sit at 24-15. That puts them 5th in the West, which sounds decent until you realize they are only a couple of games ahead of the play-in mess.
JJ Redick’s first year at the helm has been anything but boring. The team has been a rollercoaster. One night they’re hanging 141 points on the Hawks, and the next, they’re getting blown out at home by a Charlotte Hornets team that—no offense—shouldn't be putting 135 on anyone in Crypto.com Arena. It’s been a week of extremes. They’ve lost four of their last five games. That’s the kind of slump that makes the front office start looking at the trade deadline with itchy fingers.
Why the Current Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
If you just glance at the record, 24-15 looks solid. But the West is top-heavy and unforgiving. The Oklahoma City Thunder are essentially playing a different sport at 35-7, and the Denver Nuggets are right there at 28-13. The Lakers aren't chasing the 1-seed. They’re fighting to avoid the 7th or 8th spot where things get "one-game-and-you're-out" scary.
Luka Dončić has been carrying a massive load. Yeah, you read that right—in this 2025-26 season reality, Luka is the engine of this offense, leading the league in scoring at 33.6 points per game. Seeing him in a Lakers jersey still feels a bit surreal for some, but the production is undeniable. He’s 8th in the league in threes made. He’s the primary reason the Lakers have the 7th-best offensive rating in the NBA.
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The Defensive Red Flag
The problem? Defense. It’s kinda bad. The Lakers are ranked 26th in the league defensively. You can’t win a ring with the 26th-best defense. They give up 116.9 points per game. Basically, if Luka or LeBron isn't having a historic night, the Lakers struggle to stop anyone. Deandre Ayton has been doing the dirty work on the glass, leading the team with about 8.3 rebounds, but the rim protection just hasn't been consistent enough to scare teams out of the paint.
A Look at the Western Conference Hierarchy
The standings as they look this morning:
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 35-7 (Leading the pack by a mile)
- San Antonio Spurs: 28-13 (The Wemby effect is in full force)
- Denver Nuggets: 28-13 (Still the gold standard for consistency)
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 27-15
- Los Angeles Lakers: 24-15
- Houston Rockets: 24-15
You see that? The Rockets are breathing right down their necks with the exact same record. One bad night in Portland tonight and the Lakers could slide to 6th. The "nba standings today lakers" keyword is trending for a reason—people are watching that middle-of-the-pack logjam very closely.
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The Injury Bug and Depth Issues
Injuries are currently the Lakers' biggest enemy. Austin Reaves is out with a calf issue, and losing his secondary playmaking has been felt. Adou Thiero is out with a knee, and Rui Hachimura is day-to-day. When you have three or four rotation players out, the bench gets thin fast.
We’ve seen more of Bronny James and Jaxson Hayes lately, but the production is spotty. Gabe Vincent is still struggling to stay on the floor. It puts an immense amount of pressure on LeBron James, who is still somehow averaging 22.7 points and over 8 assists at age 41. It’s incredible, but it's also a lot to ask of a guy who should be able to coast a bit more in January.
Tonight's Critical Matchup
The Lakers are in Portland tonight to face the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The Blazers are 20-22 and actually 2.5-point favorites in some spots. That tells you everything you need to know about how the Lakers are viewed on the road right now. Portland is dealing with their own massive injury list—Damian Lillard is out for the season, and Scoot Henderson is sidelined—but they still play hard at home. Deni Avdija has turned into a legitimate threat for them, averaging 26.1 points. If the Lakers don't lock in defensively, Avdija will give them nightmares.
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Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season
If the Lakers want to move up from 5th and actually threaten for a top-3 spot, a few things need to change immediately.
- Fix the Perimeter Defense: Giving up 13.4 threes per game to opponents is a recipe for a first-round exit. Redick needs to find a way to tighten the rotations, even with Reaves out.
- Manage LeBron’s Minutes: He played 33 minutes in the loss to New Orleans recently. That’s okay for a game, but with a heavy road schedule coming up (at Denver, at Clippers, at Dallas), he needs help.
- The Trade Deadline: Expect Rob Pelinka to be active. The Lakers need a "3-and-D" wing who can actually guard the elite scorers in the West. Jake LaRavia has been a nice surprise, but they need more veteran grit.
- Rebounding Margin: They rank 26th in the league in rebounds per game. You can't give teams second-chance points and expect to keep the 5th seed.
Keep an eye on the scoreboard tonight. A win in Portland steadies the ship. A loss starts the "crisis" conversations on the morning talk shows.
Watch the standings daily as the gap between the 5th and 10th seeds in the West is currently only 4 games. The Lakers have one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league, so every "easy" game against a team like Portland or Toronto (who they play Sunday) is basically a must-win.