After a hard-fought loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday (without LeBron James) the Los Angeles Lakers (31-42) lead the New Orleans Pelicans (30-42) by 0.5 games for the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference — and home-court advantage in the first Play-In game. Instead of brushing aside the implications of the two teams' upcoming matchup on Sunday at the Smoothie King Center, Russell Westbrook labeled the Lakers' next test as a “must-win.”

“It’s a game that we definitely want to win,” Russ said, after putting up 24/9/8 on Philly. “I think if we have our mindset in the right place, do what we’ve been doing, playing the right proper basketball, we put ourselves in position to be able to win the game. It's going to be a playoff-type of atmosphere for us because it’s a must-win, I believe, for our group.”

The Lakers have found a groove over the past four games, despite only producing two victories. Buoyed by unforeseen contributors such as Austin Reaves, Wenyen Gabriel, D.J. Augustin, and Stanley Johnson — in addition to the uptick in play from Westbrook, the continued brilliance of LeBron, and solid minutes from Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard — the Lakers have surprisingly discovered their “care-factor” (to crib a favorite term of Frank Vogel's.)

“I think the group that played tonight showed everyone that we still got a whole lot of fight left in us,” Vogel said after the five-point loss to a full-strength Sixers squad.  “I was proud of how we competed. We continue to evolve. When we get to the finish line of the 82 games, we’re not going to be the same exact group that played 10 games-under-500 basketball. That’s the goal. What can we build that’s going to win for us in the postseason, in the Play-In games. We’re making progress with that.”

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The Lakers are 4.5 games behind the Clippers for the No. 8 seed and two games up on the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 11 seed.

Westbrook might have the proper attitude — the Lakers should be playing like every game matters, considering their rickety season and tenuous place in the standings. If things go awry in NOLA, though, they'll get another shot at the Pelicans days later, on April 1, in Los Angeles.

Added Vogel: “We got to win as many games as we can, but you play this game without Bron and AD and you compete the way you did, you’re proud of the effort and fight. What you’re looking for is signs of life for our group that we’re going to have a belief and confidence that we’re going to get in those Play-In games and win those Play-In games.”