The playoff picture in the Eastern Conference is set, but this week determines the Western Conference picture in the National Basketball Association.
Teams four through seven are separated by the thinnest of margins in the loss column. Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers are tied at the No. 4 seed with a 49-32 record, while Golden State and Minnesota have a 48-33 record. Golden State stands as the sixth seed and the Timberwolves are seventh. The team that avoids the NBA’s Play-In Tournament between the two is crucial, especially with it starting on Tuesday. Golden State ends its regular season Sunday with a home game versus the Clippers.
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Minnesota concludes its regular season with a home matchup against the Utah Jazz. Memphis, Sacramento, and Dallas have locked themselves into the tournament at seeds eight, nine, and ten respectively in the Western Conference.
It will not be an easy task for Stephen Curry (Warriors) or Anthony Edwards (T’Wolves) to face Ja Morant and Anthony Davis in the play-in tournament. Golden State won three of four matchups against Minnesota during the regular season.
We will see which star stamps his team into the top six seeds for the playoffs and avoid the play-in.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
