2018 NBA Playoff Race: Updated Western Conference Projections After Pelicans Win
The wild West indeed.
The NBA's Western Conference playoff race is coming down to the wire as the challengers to the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets battle for postseason berths and positioning right up to the end of the regular season.
Monday's slate was loaded with critical games with the Oklahoma City Thunder playing the Miami Heat, the Minnesota Timberwolves hosting the Memphis Grizzlies, the San Antonio Spurs facing the Sacramento Kings, the Denver Nuggets battling the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans squaring off with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Here is a look at the relevant results from Monday's contests, as well as an updated glance at the Western Conference playoff projections.
Monday Scores
Oklahoma City Thunder beat Miami Heat, 115-93
Minnesota Timberwolves beat Memphis Grizzlies, 113-94
San Antonio Spurs beat Sacramento Kings, 98-85
Denver Nuggets beat Portland Trail Blazers, 88-82
New Orleans Pelicans beat Los Angeles Clippers, 113-100
Current Western Conference Playoff Projections
1. *Houston Rockets, 64-16
2. *Golden State Warriors, 58-23 and 6.5 games back
3. *Portland Trail Blazers, 48-33 and 16.5 games back
4. *Utah Jazz, 47-33 and 17 games back
5. *New Orleans Pelicans, 47-34 and 17.5 games back
6. *San Antonio Spurs, 47-34 and 17.5 games back
7. *Oklahoma City Thunder, 47-34 and 17.5 games back
8. Minnesota Timberwolves, 46-35 and 18.5 games back
9. Denver Nuggets, 46-35 and 18.5 games back
*Clinched playoffs
Monday Breakdown
Monday was dominated by playoff contenders holding serve, which resulted in three clinches and the stage setting for a dramatic Wednesday showdown between the Nuggets and Timberwolves.
Oklahoma City was the first to punch its ticket and clinched the playoffs with a 115-93 victory over the Heat. Despite trailing by five entering the fourth quarter, the Thunder outscored Miami 39-12 and received an MVP performance from Russell Westbrook as he stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists.
ESPN Stats & Info noted averaging a triple-double for the second straight season is still in play for the reigning league MVP:
Elsewhere, a Spurs team that has been without Kawhi Leonard for all but nine games this season clinched the playoffs for the 21st straight campaign as the current league's model of consistency. Five players scored in double figures during the win over the Kings, including LaMarcus Aldridge, who posted a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
The Pelicans finished the clinch party with their commanding win over the Clippers, meaning there is just one remaining playoff spot to be decided in the West.
That spot will go to either the Timberwolves—who took advantage of a matchup with the downtrodden 22-59 Grizzlies thanks largely to 24 points and 18 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns—or the Nuggets—who kept pace with a win over the Trail Blazers thanks in part to Nikola Jokic's triple-double of 15 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists.
While attention was on Denver in its battle with Minnesota, Portland notably fell to just a half-game ahead of Utah in the race for the No. 3 seed with the loss. Whichever team prevails would avoid a potential matchup with the Rockets in the second round, although a date with the Warriors as the No. 3 seed isn't much of a prize.
Looking Ahead
While the Warriors and Jazz face off Tuesday in a game that is far more important to Utah than the defending champions, Wednesday's loaded schedule will ultimately determine the seeding in the Western Conference playoff race.
The Nuggets face the Timberwolves, the Spurs play the Pelicans, the Thunder battle the Grizzlies and the Jazz square off with the Trail Blazers, meaning a number of teams will have the opportunity to bolster their positioning in head-to-head showdowns with their competitors.
Oklahoma City can thank the scheduling gods for a well-timed clash against the lowly Grizzlies, but the fanbases of many of the other Western Conference teams will be sweating out what is sure to be a memorable day of NBA action.
Minnesota's home game against the Nuggets stands out among the crowded list considering the loser will face a long offseason after missing an opportunity to battle in the playoffs.
Denver just beat the Timberwolves on Thursday, but Tom Thibodeau's side was without four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler. Butler's presence as a two-way force who has been named to three All-Defensive teams throughout his career gives Minnesota a go-to option alongside big man Towns in one of the biggest games of the season.
Butler has the chance to prove why the Timberwolves traded for him this past offseason on a marquee stage.
Minnesota already beat the Nuggets in their two previous meetings when Butler was healthy, and the thought here is it will do so again on its home court and clinch the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Prediction: Timberwolves 104, Nuggets 99
