Remaining games: at Golden State at Utah vs. Getting into the postseason isn’t necessary but it can’t hurt their development. The Thunder have talent and should be really good as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams improve and they take advantage of all their future draft picks. Remaining games: at Brooklyn at San Antonio vs. They recently lost five of six games, won four consecutive and then lost three in a row, including Sunday’s game to Portland. The Timberwolves, like so many teams bunched in the West, have been up and down. They’ve won seven of their past 10 games, and if they’re in the postseason, they could get injured Zion Williamson back. New Orleans (40-38, 12 games back)īrandon Ingram’s return from injury has boosted New Orleans' postseason hopes. The way Anthony Davis has played late in the season, as long as he’s healthy, the Lakers have a strong chance of getting into the postseason – possibly as high as the fifth seed if they win out – and with LeBron James, that’s a team that is dangerous regardless of their record. Los Angeles Lakers (40-38, 12 games back) Oklahoma City, at Sacramento, at Portland 7. They’re still trying to finish in the top six and avoid the play-in game format with three teams within 1½ games. The Warriors' up-and-down-season is up right now. Will it be a guaranteed spot in the playoffs or a play-in game for the Clippers? Two wins in their final three games will help their cause. Los Angeles Clippers (41-38, 11½ games back)Ī month ago, the Clippers were in eighth place. With Kevin Durant back in the lineup, the Suns are in good position to maintain the four seed, but they also will play teams looking to strengthen their postseason position in the final three games of the season. Remaining games: at New Orleans, at Dallas, vs. Another team with a tough schedule to conclude the regular season, the Kings have a chance at the two seed. The Kings are the feel-good story of the NBA, headed for their first playoff appearance since losing in the first round in 2006. Portland, at New Orleans, at Milwaukee, at Oklahoma City Thunder 3. With the Grizzlies’ schedule, it will be difficult to catch Denver for the top seed, and given their schedule, they’ll have to win games to keep Sacramento from stealing the No. Remaining games: at Houston, at Phoenix, at Utah, vs. Regardless, this is all about Denver’s ability to reach the NBA Finals with two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets don’t have the top seed wrapped up, and they don’t have an easy schedule to finish the season. Let’s take a look at where the West is headed into Tuesday's games: 1. The top six teams in each conference make the playoffs, and teams 7-10 play for the final two playoff spots in the play-in game format. Almost assuredly, tiebreakers will play a role with difficult schedules remaining for several teams in the postseason chase. The consistent inconsistency – or is it the inconsistent consistency? – of those teams makes it impossible to forecast what will happen in the final week of the NBA’s regular season. Places 5-10 are up for grabs between eight teams (Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Utah). Denver, Memphis, Sacramento and Phoenix should finish 1-2-3-4, but after that, who knows? Not much is determined, especially when it comes to seeding. The NBA’s Western Conference standings are a jumbled mess.
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