Since getting eliminated from playoff contention on March 22, the Lakers are 3-1. Before their matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, a game that finally ended the Lakers’ playoff hopes, L.A. was riding a four-game losing streak.
A roster that was once occupied by LeBron James — who will be sidelined for the remainder of the season — Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram is now represented by the South Bay Lakers.
Heading into their Sunday matchup with the similarly lottery-bound New Orleans Pelicans, it has been just over a week since the Lakers were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, and it feels they’re playing their best minutes in months since then.