NBA Western Conference playoff picture: Warriors, Lakers control destiny for top-6 seed; The sun catches a berth
Below is an overview of where things stand in the Western Conference playoffs and play-in races on Wednesday. This post will be updated through the remainder of the normal season or until all seeds have been plucked.
A reminder of how the play-in contest works: No. 7 playing No. 8 and No. 9 playing No. 10. The winner of the 7-8 game gets the No. 1 seed.
READ: Eastern Conference playoff picture
NOTE: Our SportsLine model, developed by predictive data engineer Stephen Oh, simulates the entire season 10,000 times to produce the most unbiased and accurate predictions imaginable.
COMMUNICATION OF THE NORTH
- ????High-two seed is skewed
- Remaining schedule: at Suns, at Jazz, vs. Kings
- Current First Round Correspondence: TBD
- Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Hips have surrendered
- ????Top-three seed clinic
- Remaining schedule: at Pelicans, at Bucks, at Thunder
- Current First Round Correspondence: against the winner of the Lakers-Pelicans game
- Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Hips have surrendered
- Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: The Kings are currently in possession through the conference record
- ????Top-three seed clinic
- Remaining schedule: at Mavericks, vs. Warriors, at Nuggets
- Current First Round Correspondence: vs. Clippers
- Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Kings currently own by conference winning percentage
- ????Tippled seed in the top six
- Remaining schedule: vs. Nuggets, at Lakers, at Clippers
- Current First Round Correspondence: vs. Heroes
- Tiebreaker vs Warriors: The sun went down
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: The Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
5. Golden State Warriors (42-38)
- ???? Locked play area
- Remaining schedule: at Kings, at Blazers
- Current First Round Correspondence: at Suns
- Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: The sun went down
- Tiebreaker vs. Minnesota: Wolves currently lead in conference winning percentage
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers lead by win percentage category
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers stepped up
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Warriors lead by conference winning percentage
6. Los Angeles Clippers (41-38)
- ???? Locked play area
- Remaining schedule: vs. Lakers, vs. Blazers, at Suns
- Current First Round Correspondence: at Kings
- Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: The Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Clippers lead by win percentage category
- Tiebreaker vs. Minnesota: Wolves moved
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans grabbed him
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: The shock of cutters
- Tiebreaker vs. Oklahoma City: The storm raged
PLAY-IN TOURISM
7. Los Angeles Lakers (41-38)
- ???? Locked play area
- Remaining schedule: at Clippers, vs. Suns, vs. Jazz
- Current First Round Correspondence: vs. Pelicans (play-in)
- Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: The Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: The shock of cutters
- Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Lakers stepped up
- Tiebreaker vs. Minnesota: Wolves moved
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Lakers stepped up
8. New Orleans Pelicans (40-39)
- ???? Locked play area
- Remaining schedule: vs. Grizzlies, vs. Knicks, at Timberwolves
- Current First Round Correspondence: at lakers (play in)
- Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead by conference winning percentage
- Tiebreaker vs. Minnesota: Tied 1-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: The Pelicans are currently in possession through a divisional schedule
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers stepped up
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Pelicans grabbed him
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-40)
- ???? Locked play area
- Remaining schedule: at Spurs, vs. Pelicans
- Current First Round Correspondence: vs Thunder (play in)
- Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Wolves currently lead in conference winning percentage
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Wolves moved
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Tied 1-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Wolves moved
- Remaining schedule: at Jazz, vs. Grizzlies
- Current First Round Correspondence: at Timberwolves (play-in)
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: The storm raged
- Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Frasan lead 2-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: The storm raged
WELCOME
11. Dallas Mavericks (37-42)
- Remaining schedule: vs. Kings, vs. Bulls, vs. Spurs
- Tiebreaker vs. Oklahoma City: The storm raged
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: The Pelicans are currently in possession through a divisional schedule
- Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Mavericks went up
12. Utah Jazz (36-43)
- Remaining schedule: vs. Flashes, vs. Nuggets, at Lakers
- Tiebreaker vs. Oklahoma City: Frasan lead 2-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks went up
