The seedings for the Western Conference playoffs came down to the very last game — the Clippers‘ 124-119 overtime victory over the Warriors on Sunday afternoon. That outcome assured L.A. of a playoff spot and pushed Golden State into the play-in tournament.
The red-hot Clippers, winners of eight straight, nailed down the No. 5 seed. The Timberwolves, who won their last three games, grabbed the last automatic berth into the first round, joining the Nuggets, who secured the No. 4 seed with their win over Houston on Sunday.
Here’s how the top 10 teams in the West finished the regular season, as the NBA confirms (via Twitter):
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Sacramento Kings
- Dallas Mavericks
The play-in tournament in the Western Conference will feature the Warriors hosting the Grizzlies on Tuesday and the Kings hosting the Mavericks on Wednesday. The Golden State/Memphis winner will claim the No. 7 spot in the playoffs and face the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. The loser of that game will host the Sacramento/Dallas survivor on Friday for the No. 8 spot and the right to face the top-seeded Thunder in round one.
The Lakers will have home court advantage in the first round and face the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. The Nuggets will also have home court advantage in their first-round series against the Clippers.
The seedings for the Eastern Conference playoffs were decided prior to Sunday’s action and can be found here.
Kind of crazy how warriors played hard in the second half of the season and got screwed over while Minnesota got lucky and automatically makes the tourney.
Now golden state absolutely sucked at the start of the year so in some ways they deserve it…but wow. Guess that’s just the way the ball bounces. Will see how good Jimmy butler is or if he needs to retire and become an actual butler for rich Paul lol
How is MN lucky?
Seriously?
If warriors beat Memphis then they are the lucky ones. They match up better against Rockets than Lakers
I can see the Wolves beating the Lakers. Lakers have no paint protection.
Yeah if Rudy wants to play hard, he can have about ten dunks a game. And Jaden McDaniels is as good as anyone against Luka.
Just because Lakers has no rim protection, would necessarily mean Wolves beating the Lakers?
You can throw DFS or Rui, or Lebron, at him, body him up and maybe bait him into dribbling the ball and there you go.
If the Lakers managed to defend Jokic good, how much more if it was Gobert? Who at this point of his career doesn’t know how to create a shot inside?
This match up is so favorable vs the Lakers. Wolves does not have quicker guards. Luka will ____ them up!
You answered your own question. The Warriors absolutely sucking at the start of the year is why they’re in this spot.
MN won 17 of their last 20 games. GS won 14 of their last 20. MN earned their “luck”.
The seasons a full circle, GSW had their chances and blew them.
If they win Tuesday it doesn’t matter all that much and the fans are in for probably the best series Rd 1 with Hou/GSW .
Im also with Arc that Id rather face Hou than Lal Rd 1 as well so maybe its a small blessing in the end for Warriors
I wouldn’t.
Houston is young, athletic and hungry. Three things the Warriors are not.
rockets are inexperienced in playoffs and they lack consistency on offense. Experience matters in the playoffs.
Yeah but Ime solved Curry
No he didn’t. One game doesn’t prove anything.
And we all know Curry is at his best in the playoffs.
This time you can’t be holding Curry all game long like the other Refs allowed.
Lets go Mavs! Your fans need something to cheer about.
What a mindf* it would be if they made a run
I hate being right about the Warriors and Kerr ALL the time!!! Why, god, why?
Curry with 8 TO is unacceptable that cost them the game.
Shhh… you’re not allowed to blame Curry for anything. You can only talk about him scoring 36 to chants of “MVP” from delusional fans.
36 points with a -16 game score is wild. Jimmy Playoffs is here, at least.
Kerr literally needs to be screamed at that he cannot play more of 2 of Curry, Podz, Moody, Buddy or GP2 at the same time. He is such an unbelievable moron at his job. Kerr should have been fired after KD left and he has been a massive net negative to the roster every year since. Literally anyone is better.
It’s Playoff Jimmy.
Eh, we will see.
@Davey no you are not right all the time.
But you are always right about the small ball problems. Kerr just cannot help himself.
Next up for the NbA smallest starting lineup: Jaren Jackson Jr, Zach Edey, and Santi Aldana. They are all at least 5 inches taller than Draymond.
I am so grateful that Kerr can bring GP2 off the bench to help.
Kerr is such a great HC, he totally knows what he’s doing! (he doesn’t)
Congrats to Clippers, what a season
Id love to see a GSW/Hou series ….theres some beefs to settle here
Clippers second half have also been a different team. This is why the whole season is important. Warriors know that. Its a new season now. All about matchups in a seven gm series. Grizzlies want nothing more than to beat Warriors. Better be ready.
The Grizzlies were in such a freefall after the break, I’ll be truly surprised if they make it past the play-in.
Mavs need a win more than Kings do.
I can see a LAL v DEN at the WC finals, with DEN reaching the finals and winning it all!
Year of the Thunder …..