Getty Images
Below is a complete snapshot of the place issues stand within the Western Conference playoff and play-in with two days remaining within the common season.
Reminder on how the play-in match works: No. 7 performs No. 8 and No. 9 performs No. 10. The winner of the 7-8 recreation will get the No. 7 seed, whereas the loser performs the winner of the 9-10 recreation for the No. 8 seed.
NOTE: Our SportsLine mannequin, developed by predictive information engineer Stephen Oh, simulates the whole season 10,000 occasions to provide probably the most unbiased and exact projections possible.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
🔒Locked in as No. 1 seedCurrent first-round matchup: TBD
🔒Locked in as No. 2 seedCurrent first-round matchup: vs. Lakers-Pelicans play-in winner🔒Locked in as No. 3 seedCurrent first-round matchup: vs. Clippers🔒Locked in as No. 4 seedCurrent first-round matchup: vs. Warriors
5. Golden State Warriors (43-38)
🔒Clinched play-in spotRemaining schedule: at BlazersCurrent first-round matchup: at SunsTiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers lead by way of division win shareTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinchedTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Warriors lead by way of convention win share
6. Los Angeles Clippers (42-38)
🔒Clinched play-in spotRemaining schedule: vs. Blazers, at SunsCurrent first-round matchup: at KingsTiebreaker vs. Golden State: Clippers lead by way of division win shareTiebreaker vs. Minnesota: Wolves clinched Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans clinchedTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Clippers clinched
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
7. Los Angeles Lakers (42-39)
🔒Clinched play-in spotRemaining schedule: vs. JazzCurrent first-round matchup: vs. Pelicans (play-in)Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Lakers clinchedTiebreaker vs. Minnesota: Wolves clinchedTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Lakers clinched
8. New Orleans Pelicans (42-39)
🔒Clinched play-in spotRemaining schedule: at TimberwolvesCurrent first-round matchup: at Lakers (play-in)
Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead by way of convention win shareTiebreaker vs. Minnesota: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinchedTiebreaker vs. Clippers: Pelicans clinched
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-40)
🔒Clinched play-in spot
Remaining schedule: at Spurs, vs. PelicansCurrent first-round matchup: vs. Thunder (play-in)Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Wolves clinchedTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Wolves clinched🔒Locked in as No. 10 seedCurrent first-round matchup: at Timberwolves (play-in)