Over in the Western Conference, an intense race for the final playoff spot continues to rage on. NBA playoff standings 2020: Updated odds for Grizzlies, Trail Blazers & other teams to clinch No. The NBA installed a play-in tournament that gives teams that finish ninth and 10th in each conference a chance to make the playoffs if they win two games—one against each other, and one against. Five teams are competing for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference — the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and New Orleans Pelicans. With four seeding games down and four to go, Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts found some commonality Thursday night among the six teams vying for the final postseason spot in the Western.
- Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot On Tv
- Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot Chart
- Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot 2019
- Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot Next
- Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot
You probably know that the Portland Trail Blazers took a huge step toward a possible playoff spot by jumping into the No. 8 seed as of Wednesday morning after another unreal Damian Lillard performance.
But the race toward the West’s play-in games is hardly over. And the scenarios for who could end up fighting for the final playoff spot in the conference are bonkers heading into play on Thursday.
Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot On Tv
It couldn’t have turned out better for the NBA. The Blazers have been must-watch, the Grizzlies — who previously held the No. 8 seed — are still in it, the Spurs have figured out how to win without LaMarcus Aldridge and the Suns still haven’t lost a game at Disney World.
Let’s break down the remaining contenders, who are all within a half-game of the No. 8 spot.
Portland Trail Blazers
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
REMAINING GAMES: vs. Nets
Wow. The Blazers are not only in the driver’s seat at No. 8 — which is huge, because all the eighth seed has to do in the play-in is win one out of two games and they move on — but they play a Nets team that, while they’ve been impressive in the bubble without much of their usual lineup, is still a pretty good matchup to have when you’re playing like the Blazers are.
Basically, if they win, they’re in at No. 8 and await the game(s) against the No. 9 seed.
If they lose and the Grizzlies, Spurs and Suns lose, they’re still in at 8. They would drop to ninth if two of the teams on this list lose.
Memphis Grizzlies
(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
REMAINING GAMES: vs. Bucks
Normally, you’d say “Welp.” The Grizzlies have only won once in Disney World, and the Bucks are the NBA’s best team. But maybe Milwaukee — locked in at No. 1 in the East — sits The Greek Freak and others.
That said, they need a win and a Blazers loss to vault back into eighth. They can clinch No. 9 by winning or if both the Suns and Spurs lose.
UPDATE: Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for this game no matter what.
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Phoenix Suns
Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
REMAINING GAMES: vs. Mavericks
The hottest team in the bubble has arguably the toughest matchup with the way Luka Doncic has been playing. But Phoenix did beat the Mavs on Aug. 2.
They need to win this one and both the Grizzlies and Blazers need to lose to get the eighth seed. They reach the play-in if they win and either the Grizzlies or Blazers lose.
San Antonio Spurs
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot Chart
REMAINING GAMES: vs. Jazz
Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot 2019
Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot Next
The Suns have been stealing all the bubble headlines, but how about what Gregg Popovich has done without Aldridge? He stuck Lonnie Walker IV into the lineup and created a small-ball group with Jakob Poeltl in the middle. It’s worked!
Nba Teams Fighting For Playoff Spot
They beat the Jazz already earlier in the month, so it could happen again. But they need help to get into No. 8: a win plus every other team on this list needs to lose. They grab No. 9 with a victory and two of the other teams here need to lose.