Lakers Take On Warriors in Bid to Finish With Second Best Mark in Team’s History

One victory away from their 60th of the season, the Lakers will play the Golden State Warriors tonight at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, hoping to finish the regular season with the second-best record in club history.

With three games left, they could finish 62-20. That would be second only to the 1971-72 NBA champion Lakers who finished 69-13.

Two other Laker teams, in 1972-73 and 1979-80, had 60-22 regular-season records.

The Warriors (22-57) have lost four of five games to the Lakers this season and may be without forward Mickey Johnson, who missed Sunday’s game at Denver. Johnson is listed as probable because of a scratched right eyeball.

The Lakers will finish their regular-season home schedule Friday night at the Forum against Seattle, then travel to Kansas City for the finale Sunday afternoon.

The best-of-five first round of the playoffs will start next Thursday night at 7:30 against Phoenix at the Forum. The second game will be April 20 at 12:30 p.m. at the Forum.

The remaining schedule for the first round will be announced when all matchups are determined, the Lakers said.