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While the top three seeds have clinched their spots definitively (OKC Thunder, Houston Rockets, and LA Lakers), the race for the remaining three playoff spots has reached its tipping point in the Wild Wild West.
The West is set for a thrilling end to their regular season (AP)
The NBA regular season is finally coming to an end, with just two more game days left. And boy oh boy, is the playoff race heating up.
While the Eastern Conference has been pretty much fleshed out to the last tee (with the guaranteed playoff teams and play-in teams announced), the West is a completely different story altogether.
While the top three seeds have clinched their spots definitively (OKC Thunder, Houston Rockets, and LA Lakers), the race for the remaining three playoff spots has reached its tipping point in the Wild Wild West.
The Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves have everything to play for in the final regular season game day, as victory/loss might just curse any one of them down to the Play-in tournament.
For a better understanding, let’s take a look at how the final standings in both conferences can pan out after the last game day (Monday).
Eastern Conference Standings
- No. 1 seed: Cavaliers
- No. 2 seed: Celtics
- No. 3 seed: Knicks
- No. 4 seed: Pacers
- No. 5 seed: Bucks
- No. 6 seed: Pistons
- No. 7 seed: Magic
- No. 8 seed: Hawks
- No. 9 seed: Bulls
- No. 10 seed: Heat
Western Conference Standings
- No. 1 seed: Thunder
- No. 2 seed: Rockets
- No. 3 seed: Lakers
- No. 4 seed: Clippers, Nuggets or Timberwolves
- No. 5 seed: Clippers, Nuggets or Timberwolves
- No. 6 seed: Timberwolves or Warriors
- No. 7 seed: Clippers, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Timberwolves or Warriors
- No. 8 seed: Grizzlies or Timberwolves
- No. 9 seed: Kings or Mavericks
- No. 10 seed: Kings or Mavericks
With the Grizzlies locked into the Play-In Tournament, playoff scenarios and discussions revolve around what happens with the Timberwolves, who hold the most power to change everything in the standings.
Crucial Fixtures On Final Gameday Of 2025 NBA Regular Season
- Timberwolves vs Jazz
- Warriors vs Clippers
- Rockets vs Nuggets
If the Timberwolves lose, they will face the Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament and the other three teams will earn direct entry to the Playoffs.
If Minnesota defeats Utah, there’s going to be a wild, wild, ending to the regular season in the West.
Here are the scenarios on how the final standings in the West would pan out, assuming Minnesota wins against Utah:
If Timberwolves, Clippers and Nuggets win
Nuggets will secure the 4th seed, Clippers will take up the 5th seed, and Timberwolves will snatch the 6th seed and avoid the play-in.
Warriors will fall to 7th and will be slated to face off against the Grizzlies in the play-in.
If Timberwolves, Warriors and Nuggets win
Nuggets will secure the 4th seed, Timberwolves will take up the 5th seed, and Warriors will land safely in the 6th seed and avoid the play-in.
It would then be the Clippers who will fall to 7th and take on the Grizzlies in the play-in.
If Timberwolves, Clippers win but Nuggets lose
Clippers will take the comfy 4th seed, Timberwolves will snatch the 5th seed, and Nuggets will end up in the 6th seed, despite a loss.
Steph Curry’s Warriors will be forced to enter the play-in, where they will have to fight off the Grizzlies.
If Timberwolves, Warriors win but Nuggets lose
Timberwolves will earn the 4th seed, the Clippers will take up the 5th seed, and the Warriors will take up the final playoff spot at 6th, even though they may have incurred a loss.
Here, it would be the Jokic-led Nuggets who will be cursed to the play-in, where the Grizzlies and one more opponent (either the Kings or Mavericks) will obstruct their path to the playoffs.
In conclusion, the two teams that cannot afford a loss at any cost on Monday are the Timberwolves (who will be immediately pushed to the play-in in case of a loss) and the Denver Nuggets (whose fate will fall in the hands of the Warriors/Clippers if Jokic and co. fail to put away the Rockets on Monday).
The Los Angeles Lakers shall be thanking their lucky stars (and Luka Doncic) for their last two wins on the trot, which helped them seal the third seed today and avoid all the clamor set to take place on Monday.
