The Lakers’ path to advancing in the NBA Cup is extremely slim

The Los Angeles Lakers need some luck to break their way if they hope to get back to the Emirates NBA Cup championship game this year.

Last season, LA went on a charm run to the title game in what was then known as the NBA In-Season Tournament, defeating the Indiana Pacers, 123-109. All-NBA Second Team Los Angeles center Anthony Davis turned in a colossal two-way game, scoring a 41-point, 20-rebound night while also getting four blocks. All-NBA Third Team Lakers combo forward LeBron James was named the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament MVP, however, thanks to his play throughout.

Los Angeles is scheduled to battle the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night in the fourth and final playoff game of the team’s 2024 roster. LA is currently 2-1 in West Group B, tied with the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs. However, the Suns and Spurs lead the way in their group thanks to a massive advantage in cumulative point differential. Phoenix boasts a +19 point difference, while San Antonio is +14, per Mike Trudell of Lakers.com. However, the Lakers are -16 in point differential, thanks to an embarrassing blowout loss to Phoenix on Tuesday. The Thunder, meanwhile, are 1-1 after playing just two NBA Cup games. The tanktastic Utah Jazz have already been eliminated, thanks to an 0-3 start to their group stage.

Los Angeles needs to defeat the Thunder on Friday, but it also likely needs the 10-9 Spurs to best the 10-8 Suns on Tuesday. Trudell cautions that the Lakers’ wild-card chances are slim, given their weak point differential. The two teams have not met yet this year, but San Antonio went 3-1 against Phoenix in 2023-24 during first-team all-defensive center Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season. The Spurs at the time were without core vets Chris Paul or Harrison Barnes (who arrived this summer) or exciting young rookie Stephon Castle. Phoenix had not added now-starting point guard Tyus Jones at the time, and at the time the Suns were coached by Frank Vogel, who has since been replaced by Mike Budenholzer. All of this is to say – it’s anyone’s guess how that game will play out.

All the Lakers can do for now is win Friday night’s game. And they are not even favored to do so.

According to Joe Dellera of sportsbook aggregator The Action Networkthe higher-seeded Thunder are slight 1.5-point favorites to beat LA on their home court, Crypto.com Arena. With 14-4, Oklahoma City takes the West’s no. 1 seed, but is only 3.0 games ahead of the no. 5-seeded Lakers (11-7).

More Lakers: $203 million star tagged as top trade target for Los Angeles