Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
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Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are officially the hottest bunch in the NBA after the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
The winner of nine in a row and 12 of its last 13, there is perhaps no better time for a team like Los Angeles to be playing its best basketball. Led by league MVP candidateLuka Doncic, L.A. looks stronger than it has since it won the championship six years ago.
Still, the bar will always be set high for a franchise that has won 17 NBA titles.
Until the Lakers continue streaking and roll over that momentum to the postseason, the critics will remain doubtful about their ceiling this season.
Los Angeles Lakers Ranked on Latest NBA Power Rankings
Week 23 of the 2025-26 regular season has arrived, which means the playoffs are just a dozen-or-so games away. At this point, we know which teams are true contenders and pretenders. We know which teams are quietly dangerous but need a lot to go their way to even reach the Finals. And we certainly know which teams aren’t in any conversation to begin with.
As for the Lakers, they have hit their stride, and the trio of Doncic,Austin Reaves andLeBron James suddenly looks like it can cruise through multiple playoff series and scare the top two seeds in the Western Conference.
However, the NBA isn’t sold on them just yet.
Lakers, Lakers golfing, Luka Doncic
GettyLuke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates.
In this week’s power rankings dropped by the league, Los Angeles surprisingly sitsoutside of the top five. L.A. grabbed the No. 6 spot on the list, trailing the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference and the top seeds out West. This is somewhat of a shocker considering the number of wins the Lakers have rattled off recently and how effective their stars have looked in the process.
Over the last 13 games, Doncic has punched his name into the MVP race, and rightfully so. The 27-year-old Lakers star is averaging 36.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists per tilt on over 49% shooting from the floor and a hair under 40% from 3-point range. But he hasn’t been doing it all by himself. Reaves has averaged 20.8 points and 5.5 assists per game over that same stretch.
Oh, and how can we count out that guy in No. 23. That young dude certainly has a bright future in the NBA ahead of him (ha!).
Can Lakers Continue Mounting Momentum?
Nothing is easy without some good injury luck. After all, sports sometimes come down to the survival of the fittest.
If the Lakers remain healthy down the stretch, there is no reason to doubt them continuing to win games. Their final win total should be helped by the few gimme games left on the regular season schedule, including contests against the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz. Los Angeles absolutely needs to take care of business in these games.
On another note, L.A.’s team chemistry is developing by the game. The timing of this can be incredibly helpful. The fresh dynamic the Lakers have discovered between their trio has come at a time where playoff teams are gearing up for the big games. If Los Angeles enters the spring tournament hotter and more revitalized than the competition, it could make all the difference between an early exit and a trip to the conference finals.
The Lakers head to Detroit tonight to take on the Pistons and aim to extend their winning streak to double digits.