After Tuesday’s motion, the No. 5 Mavericks and No. 12 Blazers are separated by simply two video games within the loss column. The Lakers have, in the meanwhile, jumped again into the play-in zone and nonetheless very a lot have a shot at rising to a top-six seed. The Warriors fell once more on the highway.
Below is a complete snapshot of the place issues stand within the Western Conference playoff and play-in races coming into play on Wednsday. This submit will replace day by day all through the rest of the common season, or till all seeds are clinched.
Reminder on how the play-in event 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.
READ: Eastern Conference playoff image
NOTE: Our SportsLine mannequin, developed by predictive information engineer Stephen Oh, simulates your complete season 10,000 instances to supply probably the most unbiased and exact projections possible.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Nuggets must go within the absolute tank to blow the No. 1 seed. With 17 video games to play, they lead No. 2 Kings by seven video games and maintain an efficient eight-game lead over the No. 3 Grizzlies with the tiebreaker secured.
Projected seed: 1Current first-round matchup: TBDTiebreaker vs. Memphis: Denver has clinchedTiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Season collection tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Denver leads season collection 2-0 with two to play
2. Sacramento Kings (38-26)
By advantage of the Grizzlies’ loss to the Lakers on Tuesday, the Kings leap into the No. 2 spot by the use of presently proudly owning the tiebreaker. Sacramento, which has received eight of its final 11, holds a three-game lead over the No. 4 Suns with two head-to-head matchups remaining.
Projected seed: 4Current first-round matchup: vs. TimberwolvesTiebreaker vs. Denver: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Memphis: Kings presently personal through convention report Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-0 with two to playTiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
3. Memphis Grizzlies (38-26)
Memphis falls to No. 3 with its loss to the Lakers on Tuesday. They are tied with the No. 2 Kings and three up within the loss column on the No. 4 Suns.
Projected seed: 2Current first-round matchup: Winner of Mavericks/Clippers play-inTiebreaker vs. Denver: Nuggets have clinchedTiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Kings presently personal through convention reportTiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Grizzlies personal through division chief
4. Phoenix Suns (36-29)
The Suns are 3-0 because the Durant commerce and have a fantastic shot to cross the No. 3 Kings, whom they path by three video games with two head-to-head matchups left. The Suns lead the No. 5 Mavericks by three and the No. 6 Warriors by an efficient 4 video games with the tiebreaker secured.
Projected seed: 3Current first-round matchup: vs. WarriorsTiebreaker vs. Memphis: Grizzlies personal through division chiefTiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Phoenix leads 2-0 with two to playTiebreaker vs. Golden State: Suns have clinched Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Suns lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Dallas: Suns presently personal through convention win shareTiebreaker vs. Clippers: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
5. Dallas Mavericks (34-32)
The Mavericks leap again into the fifth seed by advantage of their win over Utah and Golden State’s loss to OKC on Tuesday. The Mavericks are tied within the loss column with No. 6 Warriors and one up on the No. 7 Wolves and No. 8 Clippers.
Projected seed: 7Current first-round matchup: at SunsTiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns owns through convention win shareTiebreaker vs. Golden State: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves clinched Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Dallas presently owns through convention reportTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play
Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Dallas leads 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play
6. Golden State Warriors (34-32)
The Warriors proceed to battle on the highway, falling to the Lakers with out LeBron James on Sunday in L.A. and once more at Oklahoma City on Tuesday. They are tied within the loss column with No. 5 Mavericks and one up on the No. 7 Wolves and No. 8 Clippers. The Warriors play every of these groups yet one more time as they intention to remain above the play-in reduce line.
Projected seed: 5Current first-round matchup: at KingsTiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns have clinched Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Dallas: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Clippers: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play
Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Warriors clinched
Play-In Tournament
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (34-32)
The Wolves fall under the play-in line after shedding to the Sixers on Tuesday, one again of No. 6 Warriors and No. 5 Mavericks within the loss column and tied with the No. 8 Clippers. The excellent news for the Wolves is that they personal the tiebreaker over the Mavericks and Clippers and nonetheless have a head-to-head with the Warriors.
Projected seed: 8Current first-round matchup: vs. ClippersTiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Dallas: Wolves clinched Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Wolves clinchedTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Tied 1-1 with one to play
Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Wolves presently personal through division reportTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Wolves clinched
8. Los Angeles Clippers (34-33)
The Clippers are a half-game behind the No. 5 Mavericks and No. 6 Warriors, have the identical report because the No. 7 Wolves, a recreation and a half up on the No. 9 Lakers, and two video games forward of No. 10 Pelicans, No. 11 Thunder and No. 12 Blazers. Our SportsLine mannequin likes them to rise above the play-in line.
Projected seed: 6Current first-round matchup: at Wolves (play-in)Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves clinched Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks presently personal through convention reportTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans lead 1-0 with two to play
Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz clinchedTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Clippers clinched
9. Los Angeles Lakers (32-34)
The Lakers jumped into the No. 9 spot, technically, with their win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday. They are tied within the loss column with the No. 10 Pelicans, No. 11 Thunder and No. 12 Blazers, however for the time being see their title greater within the standings by advantage of getting yet one more win. The Lakers are only one loss again of the No. 8 Clippers and No. 7 Timberwolves and two losses again of the No. 6 Warriors and No. 5 Mavericks. They are nonetheless very a lot within the race to even perhaps rise above the play-in line.
Projected seed: 10Current first-round matchup: at Pelicans (play-in)Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers clinchedTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Lakers lead 2-1 with one to play
Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz lead 2-0 with two to playTiebreaker vs. OKC: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers presently personal through convention win share
10. New Orleans Pelicans (31-34)
After Utah’s loss on Tuesday, the Pelicans have the identical 31-34 report because the No. 11 Thunder and No. 12 Blazers. In tiebreaker situations that contain three or extra groups, the nod, so as, goes to the staff with one of the best head-to-head win share in opposition to all groups concerned. At the second, that leaves New Orleans on the best facet of the play-in line.
Projected seed: 9Current first-round matchup: vs. Lakers (play-in)Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Los Angeles leads 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. OKC: Pelicans clinchedTiebreaker vs. Portland: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play
Outside trying in
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (31-34)
With their win over the Warriors on Tuesday, The Thunder have the identical 31-34 report because the No. 10 Pelicans and No. 12 Blazers. See the Pelicans part above for a breakdown of how tiebreaker situations involving three or extra groups kind out.
Projected seed: LotteryTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Utah: OKC leads 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Portland: OKC clinched
The Blazers have the identical 31-34 report because the No. 10 Pelicans and No. 11 Thunder. See the Pelicans part above for a breakdown of how tiebreaker situations involving three or extra groups kind out.
Projected seed: LotteryTiebreaker vs. Utah: Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play
Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Blazers presently personal through convention win shareTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. OKC: Thunder clinched
13. Utah Jazz (31-35)
After its loss to Dallas on Tuesday, Utah is one again within the loss column of the No. 9 Lakers, No. 10 Pelicans, No. 11 Thunder and No. 12 Blazers.
Projected seed: LotteryTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Jazz Clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Jazz lead 2-0 with two to playTiebreaker vs. OKC: Thunder lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play
