The Lakers' current situation is indeed more complicated. Due to the Nuggets' improved record, they returned to the first place in the West, which was not good for the Lakers. If the Lakers want to avoid the playoffs, they will need to do well in their remaining games to ensure they remain in at least the top eight in the West.
The Clippers' loss to the Suns put pressure on the Lakers, as if the Warriors beat the Trail Blazers in the subsequent game, they would have a better record than the Lakers, meaning the Lakers could fall to ninth or even tenth place in the West. According to the NBA's format, teams ranked seventh through 10th in the West will have to compete through two play-in rounds for the last two spots to make the playoffs.
If the Lakers end up qualifying for the playoffs as eighth or lower seeds, they have a good chance of facing a strong Nuggets in the first round. It's always more advantageous for any team to avoid a strong opponent like the Nuggets, but for the Lakers and Nuggets, such a matchup is a serious challenge for both sides.
For the Lakers to improve their current situation, they will have to give it their all in the upcoming games to improve their rankings as much as possible. At the same time, they also need to keep an eye on the performance of other competitors in order to better control their own destiny. Regardless of the outcome, the Lakers will need to be prepared for the upcoming challenges.