After the Los Angeles Lakers triumphed over Houston, clinching the Pacific Division title and securing the third seed in the playoffs with their 50th win, their locker room celebration was both vibrant and drenched.

Joyful cheers echoed through the arena’s tunnel walls. Coach JJ Redick emerged wearing a green Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt, humorously noting, “the only dry item of clothing I have.”

“Hopefully, in the next nine days, the $17,000 in damage to the carpet can get fixed,” Redick quipped, reflecting on the eight ice buckets dumped on him.

The team, guided by a rookie head coach and LeBron James, has tackled a significant midseason trade and managed to stay resilient despite various hurdles, establishing themselves as strong contenders for deep playoff success.

Could they possibly challenge for another title and add to their 17 banners? “I truly believe we can win a championship,” Austin Reaves stated, “because I know everyone in that locker room shares that belief.”

James refrained from addressing the media post-game; however, Luka Doncic reiterated Reaves’ confidence regarding the Lakers’ potential for a championship after their latest division victory.

“I think we have the team to do it,” Doncic asserted, after scoring 39 points in three quarters against the Rockets. “When everyone is focused, we’re a tough team to beat, and that’s our aim.”

With this momentous victory, the Lakers have shown their potential for a successful playoff run, a testament to their strength despite having less than two months together.

Doncic commenced his Lakers journey on February 10, following the Dallas Mavericks surprising the league by trading the Slovenian star for Anthony Davis. Although the Lakers hold a 19-12 record since then, it remains commendable given their recent transitions.

“The guys who stayed through every challenge deserve recognition,” Redick said, expressing pride in their resilience, highlighting it as an achievement to secure 50 wins in a regular season, especially in such a competitive Western Conference.

As the Lakers prepare for the playoffs, they also have the opportunity to rest their top players ahead of Sunday’s game in Portland and allow for recuperation during next week’s play-in tournament.

As the Lakers gear up for their playoff journey, Reaves humorously shared, “I was joking with my friend, expressing that this year feels like five years condensed into one, yet it seems to have just begun. This group has continuously bounced back from adversity, which is all you can expect.”

This story was originally reported by The Associated Press.