NBA Western Conference playoff image: Warriors succor above play-in line, shield an eye fixed on be pleased future for No. 5 seed

Down eight with beneath two minutes to play, the Golden Instruct Warriors roared succor for a huge clutch over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday to snap a three-sport shedding whisk and vault succor above the play-in line in the Western Conference playoff scamper. 

Below is a comprehensive snapshot of where issues stand in the Western Conference playoff and play-in races entering play on Sunday This post will update day-to-day all the way thru the remainder of the habitual season, or till all seeds are clinched. 

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 sport gets the No. 7 seed, whereas the loser performs the winner of the 9-10 sport for the  No. 8 seed. 

READ: Eastern Conference playoff image

NOTE: Our SportsLine model, developed by predictive records engineer Stephen Oh, simulates your whole season 10,000 cases to fabricate primarily the most independent and right projections conceivable.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Denver Nuggets (46-21)

The Nuggets occupy misplaced two straight but would must dart in the absolute tank to blow the No. 1 seed. With 15 video games to play, they lead the No. 2 Kings by 5 video games in the loss column and shield an efficient six-sport lead over the No. 3 Grizzlies with the tiebreaker secured. 

• Projected seed: 1
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup:  TBD
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Denver has clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento:  Season sequence tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Denver leads season sequence 2-0 with two to play

2. Sacramento Kings (40-26)

Sacramento, which has won 10 of its past 13 after beating Phoenix on Saturday, holds the No. 2 seed by advantage of for the time being owning the tiebreaker over Memphis. The Kings now occupy a four-loss lead over the No. 4 Suns with one head-to-head matchup excellent. 

• Projected seed: 3
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup:  vs. Timberwolves-Mavericks play-in winner
• Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis:  Kings for the time being be pleased by strategy of conference clutch percentage 
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden Instruct:  Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play

3. Memphis Grizzlies (40-26)

Memphis stays tied with the No. 2 Kings and strikes to four up in the loss column on the No. 4 Suns.

• Projected seed: 2
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup:  vs. Warriors
• Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Nuggets occupy clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento:  Kings for the time being be pleased by strategy of conference file
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Grizzlies be pleased by strategy of division chief

4. Phoenix Suns (37-30)

The Suns fell four losses succor of No. 2 Sacramento and No. 3 Memphis with their loss to the Kings on Saturday. Phoenix holds a three-loss lead over the No. 5 Clippers and No. 6 Warriors. With 15 video games to play, it is starting up to feel like Phoenix is gorgeous locked into the 4-seed. 

• Projected seed: 4
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup:  vs. Clippers
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis:  Grizzlies be pleased by strategy of division chief
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Phoenix leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden Instruct:  Suns occupy clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Suns for the time being be pleased by strategy of conference clutch percentage
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play

5. Los Angeles Clippers (36-33)

The Clippers are tied in the loss column with the No. 6 Warriors with one matchup excellent. They’re correct one loss up on the 7-9 seeds. 

• Projected seed:  5
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup:  at Suns
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden Instruct:  Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves:  Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks for the time being be pleased by strategy of conference file
• Tiebreaker vs. Fresh Orleans:  Pelicans lead 1-0 with two to play
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Jazz clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Clippers clinched

6. Golden Instruct Warriors (35-33)

The Warriors jumped succor above the play-primarily based entirely entirely on their clutch over the Bucks on Saturday. They’re tied in the loss column with the No. 5 Clippers and occupy the tiebreaker secured, that way they shield an eye fixed on their be pleased future for the 5-seed. But discontinue they want it? This will presumably mean a major-spherical matchup with the Suns. 

• Projected seed: 6
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup:  at Grizzlies
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns occupy clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves:  Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Fresh Orleans: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Warriors clinched

Play-In Tournament

7. Minnesota Timberwolves (34-34)

Minnesota falls below the play-in line by advantage of Golden Instruct’s clutch. They’re tied in the loss column with the No. 8 Mavericks and No. 9 Lakers. 

• Projected seed:  8
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup:  vs. Mavericks (Play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden Instruct:  Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas:  Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Wolves clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Fresh Orleans:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Wolves for the time being be pleased by strategy of division file
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Wolves clinched

8. Dallas Mavericks (34-34)

In their quest to climb above the play-in line, Dallas is one succor of the No. 5 Clippers with the tiebreaker for the time being in their desire, and one succor of the No. 6 Warriors with one head-to-head matchup excellent. 

• Projected seed: 7
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup:  at Timberwolves (Play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns owns by strategy of conference clutch percentage
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden Instruct:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves:  Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Dallas for the time being owns by strategy of conference file
• Tiebreaker vs. Fresh Orleans:  Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play

9. Los Angeles Lakers (33-34)

The Lakers defeated Toronto on Friday to dwell the No. 9 seed, tied in the loss column with the No. 8 Wolves and correct one loss succor of the 5-8 seeds. They’re nonetheless very mighty in the scamper to even per chance rise above the play-in line as they no longer sleep for LeBron James to arrive. 

• Projected seed:  9
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup: vs. Jazz (Play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Fresh Orleans:  Lakers lead 2-1 with one to play
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Jazz lead 2-0 with two to play
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers for the time being be pleased by strategy of conference clutch percentage

10. Utah Jazz (33-35)

Utah jumps succor into the play-in image by strategy of its clutch over the Hornets and Fresh Orleans’ loss to OKC on Saturday. 

• Projected seed:  Lottery
• Most up-to-date first-spherical matchup: at Lakers (Play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Fresh Orleans:  Jazz Clinched
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Jazz lead 2-0 with two to play
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC:  Yelp lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play

Out of doors Taking a observe In

11. Fresh Orleans Pelicans (32-35)

The Pelicans fall into the lottery for the time being with their loss to the Yelp on Saturday and Utah’s clutch over Charlotte. 

• Projected seed: 10
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden Instruct: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves:   Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Jazz clinched
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Los Angeles leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC:  Pelicans clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play

12. Oklahoma Metropolis Yelp (32-35)

The Yelp are one succor in the loss column of the No. 9 Lakers and No. 10 Pelicans. 

• Projected seed:  Lottery
• Tiebreaker vs. Fresh Orleans:  Pelicans clinched
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  OKC leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: OKC clinched

13. Portland Path Blazers (31-36)

The Blazers are one loss succor of the closing play-in set aside, for the time being held by Utah, which Portland performs one extra time. 

• Projected seed:  Lottery
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play
  
  
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Blazers for the time being be pleased by strategy of conference clutch percentage
• Tiebreaker vs. Fresh Orleans:  Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Yelp clinched