The NBA playoffs are approaching, and the Western Conference picture is becoming clearer. While the top three seeds are set with Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers, the remaining playoff spots are still contested.
With just one day of the regular season remaining, four Western Conference teams – Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors, and Timberwolves – with similar records are battling for playoff positions. Only three guaranteed playoff spots are available, making the Warriors vs. Clippers game a pivotal contest. The winner secures a playoff spot (Clippers as No. 4 or 5, Warriors as No. 6), while the loser risks dropping to the Play-In Tournament.
Game Information: Warriors vs. Clippers
- Date: Sunday, April 13
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
- Odds: GSW -166 | LAC +140 | O/U: 219.5 (via DraftKings)
The following is a simplified look at the playoff probabilities (according to PlayoffStatus.com) for teams currently ranked No. 4 to No. 8, along with their remaining schedule and tiebreaker situations.
Remember, the top six seeds automatically qualify for the playoffs. Seeds 7-10 will compete in the Play-In Tournament for the final playoff spots.
Western Conference Playoff Probabilities
| Western Conference playoff probabilities | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6 | No. 7 | No. 8 | Top 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Denver Nuggets (49-32) | 36% | 5% | 25% | 35% | 65% | |
| 5. Los Angeles Clippers (49-32) | 29% | 51% | 19% | 81% | ||
| 6. Golden State Warriors (48-33) | 62% | 38% | 62% | |||
| 7. Minnesota Timberwolves (48-33) | 35% | 44% | 14% | 2% | 5% | 93% |
| 8. Memphis Grizzlies (47-34) | 5% | 95% |
Tiebreaker Rules Explained
In a two-way tie, the head-to-head season series record determines the higher seed. If the series is split and a division winner is involved, the division winner gets the higher seed. Further tiebreakers include division record (if applicable), conference record, record against top-10 in-conference teams, record against top-10 teams overall, and point differential.
For ties involving more than two teams, the tiebreakers are: division winner, record against tied teams, division record (if all tied teams are in the same division), conference record, record against top-10 in-conference teams, record against top-10 teams overall, and point differential.
Team Outlook
Denver Nuggets (49-32)
- Regular-season finale: at Rockets (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
- Division winner: Can`t win
- Head-to-head won: Warriors (2-1), Clippers (2-2)
- Head-to-head lost: Timberwolves (0-4)
- Division record: 8-8, no games remaining
- Conference record: 31-20, one game remaining
- Note: Nuggets will be No. 4 seed with a win against the Rockets.
Los Angeles Clippers (49-32)
- Regular-season finale: at Warriors (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
- Division winner: Can`t win
- Head-to-head won: Warriors (3-0, one game remaining)
- Head-to-head lost: Timberwolves (0-3), Nuggets (2-2)
- Division record: 8-7, one game remaining
- Conference record: 28-23, one game remaining
- Note: Clippers can clinch a top-five seed by defeating the Warriors.
Golden State Warriors (48-33)
- Regular-season finale: vs. Clippers (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
- Division winner: Can`t win
- Head-to-head won: Timberwolves (3-1), Grizzlies (3-1)
- Head-to-head lost: Nuggets (1-2), Clippers (0-3, one game remaining)
- Division record: 5-10, one game remaining
- Conference record: 29-22, one game remaining
- Note: Warriors will secure the No. 6 seed (avoiding play-in) by winning against the Clippers.
Minnesota Timberwolves (48-33)
- Regular-season finale: vs. Jazz (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
- Division winner: Can`t win
- Head-to-head won: Nuggets (4-0), Clippers (3-1)
- Head-to-head lost: Warriors (1-3), Grizzlies (1-2)
- Division record: 10-5, one game remaining
- Conference record: 32-19, one game remaining
- Note: Timberwolves can clinch a top-six seed (avoiding play-in) by winning against the Jazz.
Memphis Grizzlies (47-34)
- Regular-season finale: vs. Mavericks (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
- Division winner: Can`t win
- Head-to-head won: Timberwolves (2-1)
- Head-to-head lost: Warriors (1-3)
- Division record: 10-5, one game remaining
- Conference record: 26-24, one game remaining
- Note: Grizzlies will finish eighth (with a chance for No. 7 seed in play-in) if they lose to the Mavericks.
Confused? Just remember the Clippers vs. Warriors game on Sunday is crucial for playoff positioning.
Jasper Hawthorne