The NBA playoff race is almost always interesting. But since the Association enacted the NBA Play-In Tournament, it has been more compelling than ever. This year’s race, especially in the loaded Western Conference, features countless storylines and a number of different scenarios that we expect to play out.
For starters, just three games total separate the sixth-seeded Pelicans (48-32) and the 10th-seeded Lakers (45-35). The Pels, Suns, Kings, Lakers and Warriors are all hovering around or near Play-In territory, assuring us of one of the most star-studded playoff bubbles in sports history.
Friday’s matchups between Suns-Kings and Pelicans-Warriors could be as good or better than any matchup we see in the first round of the playoffs.
We’ve reached the time of year where games become “must-see” and the start of next week will be “win or go home” for most of these teams. Let’s take a look at the Western Conference standings, updated NBA Play-In scenarios, and the BetMGM Oddsplayoffs and remaining schedules for all stacked West teams.
Western Conference playoff race: Updated standings
| Equipment | Record | Games back |
Insured? |
| Denver Nuggets | 56-24 | — | Qualifiers |
| minnesota wolves | 55-25 | 1.0 | Qualifiers |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 55-25 | 1.0 | Qualifiers |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 51-29 | 5.0 | Qualifiers |
| Dallas Mavericks | 50-30 | 6.0 | Qualifiers |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 48-32 | 8.0 | Determined |
| phoenix suns | 47-33 | 9.0 | Determined |
| Kings of Sacramento | 45-35 | 11.0 | Determined |
| warriors of the golden state | 45-35 | 11.0 | Entrance |
| the Los Angeles Lakers | 44-35 | 11.0 | Entrance |
| Houston Rockets | 39-40 | 16.5 | Removed |
As you can see, it’s not just the race to the number one spot that has been exciting in the West. The Pels, Suns and Kings all have a chance at the No. 6 seed, the last guaranteed playoff spot. The two teams that lose that spot will have to earn their way to seventh or eighth seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Western Conference Playoff Race: Tiebreakers
Here is the order of the official NBA tiebreaker rules and how they could affect the Western Conference playoff bubble:
- Head-to-head record; best record in games with tied teams
- Division record; best record in games against teams from their own division (only if the teams are in the same division)
- Conference record; best record in games against teams in their own conference
- Winning percentage against playoff teams in their own conference
- Winning percentage against playoff teams in opposing conference
- Point difference in all games
Western Conference playoff race: Odds of making or missing the playoffs
| Equipment | Do | Miss |
| New Orleans Pelicans | -550 | +380 |
| phoenix suns | -1400 | +800 |
| Kings of Sacramento | +100 | -120 |
| the Los Angeles Lakers | +220 | -275 |
| warriors of the golden state | +120 | -145 |
As you can see, the sportsbooks expect the Pelicans, Suns and Kings to make the playoffs. However, bookmakers will never give great odds on LeBron James and the Lakers or Steph Curry and the Warriors making the playoffs.
All of the teams in this race are very much alive, which makes every game of every day, the rest of the regular season and the Play-In tournament, even more important.
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Western Conference playoff race: Remaining schedules
| Equipment | Opp. 1 | Opp. 2 |
| pelicans | @Warriors (4/12) | against Lakers (4/14) |
| Suns | @ Wolves (4/14) | — |
| Kings | against suns (4/12) | against Blazers (4/14) |
| Lakers | @Grizzlies (4/12) | @ Pelicans (4/14) |
| Warriors | against pelicans (4/12) | against Jazz (4/14) |
