NBA Western Conference playoff photo: Kings still alive for No. 1 seed; Lakers fall out of play-in

With Denver on a three-game losing streak, the Kings, who have actually won 10 of their last 13, are not out of the running for the No. 1 seed. They track the Nuggets by 4 in the loss column with almost a month to play and one head-to-head match staying. 

Meanwhile, the Lakers dropped into a four-way tie, and for the minute out of the play-in photo, with their loss to the Knicks on Sunday. 

Below is an extensive photo of where things stand in the Western Conference playoff and play-in races going into play on Monday. This post will upgrade daily throughout the rest of the routine season, or up until all seeds are clinched. 

Reminder on how the play-in competition works: No. 7 plays No. 8 and No. 9 plays No. 10. The winner of the 7-8 video game gets the No. 7 seed, while the loser plays the winner of the 9-10 video game for the  No. 8 seed. 

READ: Eastern Conference playoff photo

KEEP IN MIND: Our SportsLine design, established by predictive information engineer Stephen Oh, imitates the whole season 10,000 times to produce the most objective and accurate forecasts you can possibly imagine.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Nuggets have actually lost 3 straight to a minimum of split the window for the No. 2 Kings to capture them for the No. 1 seed. With 14 video games to play, Denver leads Sacramento by 4 video games in the loss column, however they still have one head-matchup staying on the last day of the season. 

If Sacramento can comprise 3 video games over the next three-plus weeks — a high order, however definitely possible as Denver has actually begun to skid — it would enter into that last video game managing its own fate for the front runner as that video game will likewise choose the tiebreaker with Denver. 

• Projected seed: 1
• Current first-round match:  TBD
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Denver has actually clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento:  Season series connected 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Denver leads season series 2-0 with 2 to play

2. Sacramento Kings (40-26)

Sacramento tracks No. 1 Denver by 4 video games in the loss column, however they still have one head-matchup staying on the last day of the season. If Sacramento can comprise 3 video games over the next three-plus weeks — a high order, however definitely possible as Denver has actually begun to skid — it would enter into that last match managing its own fate for the front runner as that video game will likewise choose the tiebreaker. 

That stated, Sacramento’s more important company is holding back Memphis for the No. 2 seed, which would bring with it home-court benefit in a prospective second-round series. 

• Projected seed: 3
• Current first-round match:  vs. Timberwolves-Mavericks play-in winner
• Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis:  Kings presently own by means of conference win portion 
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State:  Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play

Memphis stays connected with the No. 2 Kings, 4 up in the loss column on the No. 4 Suns. Memphis tracks No. 1 Denver, which has actually protected the tiebreaker, by an efficient 5 video games. 

• Projected seed: 2
• Current first-round match:  vs. Warriors
• Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Nuggets have actually clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento:  Kings presently own by means of conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Grizzlies own by means of department leader

4. Phoenix Suns (37-30)

The Suns fell 4 losses back 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’s beginning to seem like Phoenix is quite locked into the 4-seed. 

• Projected seed: 4
• Current first-round match:  vs. Clippers
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis:  Grizzlies own by means of department leader
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Phoenix leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State:  Suns have actually clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Suns presently own by means of conference win portion
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play

5. Los Angeles Clippers (36-33)

The Clippers are incorporated the loss column with the No. 6 Warriors with one match staying. They are simply one loss up on the No. 7 Timberwolves and No. 8 Mavericks. 

• Projected seed:  5
• Current first-round match:  at Suns
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State:  Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves:  Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks presently own by means of conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans:  Pelicans lead 1-0 with 2 to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Jazz clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Clippers clinched

6. Golden State Warriors (35-33)

The Warriors leapt back above the play-in line with their win over the Bucks on Saturday. They are incorporated the loss column with the No. 5 Clippers and have actually the tiebreaker protected, indicating they manage their own fate for the 5-seed. But do they desire it? It will most likely suggest a first-round match with the Suns. 

• Projected seed: 6
• Current first-round match:  at Grizzlies
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns have actually 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. New Orleans: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Warriors clinched

Play-In Tournament

7. Minnesota Timberwolves (34-34)

Minnesota is incorporated the loss column with the No. 8 Mavericks, one loss up on the 9-12 seeds. 

• Projected seed:  9
• Current first-round match:  vs. Mavericks (Play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State:  Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas:  Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Wolves clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Wolves presently own by means of department record
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Wolves clinched

8. Dallas Mavericks (34-34)

In their mission to climb up above the play-in line, Dallas is one back of the No. 5 Clippers with the tiebreaker presently in their favor, and one back of the No. 6 Warriors with one head-to-head match staying. 

• Projected seed: 7
• Current first-round match:  at Timberwolves (Play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns owns by means of conference win portion
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves:  Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Dallas presently owns by means of conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. New 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. Utah Jazz (33-35)

Utah presently beings in a four-way tie with the No. 10 Thunder, No. 11 Lakers and No. Pelicans. In tiebreaker circumstances that consist of more than 2 groups, approval, in order, goes to the group with the very best win portion in all head-to-head matches amongst the groups included. 

• Projected seed:  Lottery
• Current first-round match: at Lakers (Play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans:  Jazz Clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Jazz lead 2-0 with 2 to play
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC:  Thunder lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play

10. Oklahoma City Thunder (33-35)

See Utah area for four-way tie breakdown. 

• Projected seed:  Lottery
• Tiebreaker vs. New 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

Outside Looking In

9. Los Angeles Lakers (33-35)

See Utah area for four-way tie breakdown. 

• Projected seed:  8
• Current first-round match: vs. Jazz (Play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers:  Clippers clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans:  Lakers lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Jazz lead 2-0 with 2 to play
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers presently own by means of conference win portion

11. New Orleans Pelicans (33-35)

See Utah area for four-way tie breakdown. 

• Projected seed: 10
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: 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 clinched

The Blazers are 2 losses back of the last play-in area after losing to New Orleans on Sunday.

• Projected seed:  Lottery
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah:  Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers:  Blazers presently own by means of conference win portion
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans:  Pelicans clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Thunder clinched