Despite another loss, Anthony Davis says Lakers believe they can earn a play-in bid

The Lakers stand on the precipice of their disappointing season.

They’ve 5 video games left to proper all of the wrongs they’ve but to appropriate within the first 77 regular-season video games.

A spot within the playoff play-in recreation is all they need to play for now, and even getting from the eleventh seed they at present occupy to the tenth seed they should lengthen their season will take quite a lot of work.

“Nicely, till it says we’re eradicated, it doesn’t. Till that second, we’ll know what our future is, however proper now, we don’t,” LeBron James stated late Friday evening after his 38 factors and eight rebounds in 39½ minutes nonetheless couldn’t cease the Lakers from dropping their fifth straight recreation and dropping additional down the Western Convention standings. “So, maintain pushing ahead.”

The Lakers are one recreation behind the Spurs for the ultimate play-in spot within the West, and San Antonio owns the tiebreaker.

After dropping to the Pelicans 114-111 Friday evening at Crypto.com Area, the Lakers are three video games behind New Orleans, which swept Los Angeles this season 3-0.

Anthony Davis, who returned Friday after recovering from his newest harm, stated, “I believe there’s quite a lot of perception” within the crew having the ability to win all of them.

“We all know what we’re enjoying for,” Davis stated. “We all know the place that we’re in. We all know we’re enjoying towards some prime groups. So, I believe we’ve got to imagine. I don’t suppose it’s hope. We don’t play off hope and ‘let’s hope we win this recreation.’ We’ve perception and I imagine. I do know … everybody in that locker room believes. We’ve obtained to exit and get it achieved. It’s that easy. We’ve to win these video games and we’ve got to have that method.”

The Lakers and Spurs have 5 video games remaining, and each groups have powerful schedules.

The Lakers host the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, then play at Phoenix (Tuesday) and Golden State (Thursday). They host Oklahoma Metropolis April 8 and shut the common season April 10 at Denver.

The Spurs host the Portland Path Blazers, then play at Denver and Minnesota earlier than returning dwelling to host Golden State and end at Dallas.

“I don’t have a look at San Antonio in any respect,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel stated. “I imply, clearly, discovering out what their scores appear like. However our focus goes to be on what we will management and that’s profitable the following recreation. … The following recreation’s in entrance of us. The restoration begins now. We’re enjoying primarily three video games in three nights with a 12:30 begin. That’s such a fast turnaround it’s ridiculous, so psychological and bodily restoration begins now. And as a training employees, you flip your consideration to no matter you’ve obtained to do for Denver.”

The following recreation is towards the Nuggets at Crypto.com Area on Sunday, and the Lakers will not be at full power.

James returned to play after lacking the earlier two video games with a left ankle sprain.

“Nicely, for me personally, it’s to get began engaged on this ankle clearly,” James stated. “It’s fairly sore proper now. So early begin on Sunday. Hopefully it reacts the right means for me within the morning once I get up and I’ve no setbacks. So, for me, that’s crucial factor. Us as a crew, it’s a tricky loss for us. So, we get a chance tomorrow to sort of decompress and have the time off, then get again at it.”

Davis had missed 18 straight video games on account of a proper mid-foot sprain.

“I felt good,” Davis stated. “Final 4 minutes was positively a battle. … Been just a little sore. To that time, I felt actually good. We all know the state of affairs that we’re in. Regardless that soreness within the foot, soreness in LB’s ankle, we felt like this was a recreation we needed to play and clearly the following 5 video games as effectively.”