As the NBA regular season comes to a thrilling conclusion, the Western Conference playoff picture remains a tangled web of possibilities.
With the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis Grizzlies all vying for seeds 4 through 8, Sunday’s games will determine their postseason fates. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of all the potential outcomes and tiebreakers.
Current Standings
4. Denver Nuggets: 49-32
5. Los Angeles Clippers: 48-33
6. Golden State Warriors: 48-33
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 48-33
8. Memphis Grizzlies: 47-34
Key Matchups on Sunday
- Nuggets vs. Rockets
- Clippers vs. Warriors
- Timberwolves vs. Jazz
- Grizzlies vs. Mavericks
Scenarios:
IF GSW/MIN/MEM/DEN win: DEN (4), MIN (5), GSW (6), LAC (7), MEM (8)
IF GSW/MIN/MEM win, DEN lose: MIN (4), LAC (5), GSW (6), DEN (7), MEM (8)
IF GSW/MEM win, DEN/MIN lose: LAC(4), DEN (5), GSW (6), MEM (7), MIN (8)
IF GSW/DEN win, MIN/MEM lose: DEN (4), LAC (5), GSW (6), MIN (7), MEM (6)
IF GSW/MIN win, DEN lose: MIN (4), LAC (5), GSW (6), DEN (7), MEM (8)
IF LAC/MIN/MEM/DEN win: DEN (4), LAC (5), MIN (6), GSW (7), MEM (8)
IF LAC/MIN/MEM win, DEN lose: LAC (4), MIN (5), DEN (6), GSW (7), MEM (8)
IF LAC/DEN/MEM win, MIN lose: DEN (4), LAC (5), GSW (6), MEM (7), MIN (8)
FULL WEST PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR SUNDAY:
IF GSW/MIN/MEM/DEN win: DEN (4), MIN (5), GSW (6), LAC (7), MEM (8)
IF GSW/MIN/MEM win, DEN lose: MIN (4), LAC (5), GSW (6), DEN (7), MEM (8)
IF GSW/MEM win, DEN/MIN lose: LAC(4), DEN (5), GSW (6), MEM (7), MIN (8)
IF GSW/DEN win,…
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) April 12, 2025
Sunday’s games will not only determine playoff seeding but also set the tone for the postseason. Teams are fighting to avoid the volatility of the play-in tournament and secure favorable matchups in the first round. With so much on the line, fans can expect a day of high-stakes basketball, with all games tipping off at the same time.
