NBA Western Conference playoff picture: Nuggets clinch top-six seed; Lakers jump Thunder, take hold of No. 9

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The Denver Nuggets clinched at least a top-six seed with a win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, joining the Milwaukee Bucks as the first two teams to seal playoff spots. 

Below is a comprehensive snapshot of where things stand in the Western Conference playoff and play-in races entering play on Friday. This post will update daily throughout the remainder of the regular season or until all seeds are clinched. 

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

READ: Eastern Conference playoff picture

NOTE: Our SportsLine model, developed by predictive data engineer Stephen Oh, simulates the entire season 10,000 times to produce the most unbiased and precise projections imaginable.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Projected seed: 1Current first-round matchup: TBDTiebreaker vs. Memphis: Nuggets have clinchedTiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Season series tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Nuggets lead season series 2-0 with two to playProjected seed: 3Current first-round matchup: Winner of Timberwolves/Mavericks play-inTiebreaker vs. Denver: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Memphis: Kings currently own via conference win percentage Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to playProjected seed: 2Current first-round matchup: vs. WarriorsTiebreaker vs. Denver: Nuggets have clinchedTiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Kings currently own via conference recordTiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Grizzlies own via division leader

4. Phoenix Suns (38-32)

Projected seed: 4Current first-round matchup: vs. ClippersTiebreaker vs. Memphis: Grizzlies own via division…


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Author : Brad Botkin

Publish date : 2023-03-17 10:00:31

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