NBA Playoff Race 2018: Western Conference Seedings After Final Games

The West will be won in the coming weeks during the 2018 NBA playoffs, but there was no shortage of drama Wednesday during the final day of the regular season.

While seeding was still in play for a handful of teams, no game carried more importance than the showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. The winner clinched the final spot in the Western Conference playoff picture, while the loser was left facing a long offseason of questions about what could have been with a better performance.

As if that weren't enough drama, the do-or-die game went into overtime before the Timberwolves scored the final seven points of the contest to clinch the 112-106 win and a spot in the playoffs.

Elsewhere, the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz squared off with the No. 3 seed on the line and the chance to avoid the top-seeded Houston Rockets in a potential second-round series. Granted, a possible second-round date with the Golden State Warriors is hardly something to brag about, but the Trail Blazers took care of business on their home floor Wednesday.

Here is a look at the final Western Conference seeds before a quick prediction for each series.

Western Conference Playoff Seeds

1. Houston Rockets

2. Golden State Warriors

3. Portland Trail Blazers

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

5. Utah Jazz

6. New Orleans Pelicans

7. San Antonio Spurs

8. Minnesota Timberwolves

First-Round Predictions

Houston Rockets over Minnesota Timberwolves in five games

This figures to be a closer series than many showdowns between Nos. 1 and 8 seeds, considering the Timberwolves would likely be in better position had Jimmy Butler stayed healthy all season.

It's not too often an eighth seed is going to bring playmakers as talented as Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns into a series, and they will combine to win one of the home games.

Still, the Rockets didn't dominate throughout the season and best the defending champion Warriors in the race for the top seed just to lose in the first round to Minnesota. James Harden will prove why he is the potential 2017-18 MVP and take over when games are on the line, which will propel his Rockets into the second round.

Golden State Warriors over San Antonio Spurs in four games

This is a rematch of last season's Western Conference finals, although Stephen Curry helped Golden State sweep the San Antonio Spurs after Kawhi Leonard suffered an injury in Game 1.

Curry is dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain, which could leave the Warriors vulnerable as they attempt to reach their fourth straight NBA Finals. Still, they won't be vulnerable against a Spurs squad that has been without Leonard for all but nine games this season as he recovers from a quadriceps injury.

San Antonio doesn't have enough firepower to keep up with the likes of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green with its two-way go-to option sidelined, and the Warriors will take their first step toward defending their title with a sweep.

Portland Trail Blazers over New Orleans Pelicans in seven games

This series has the chance to be a classic.

Portland and the New Orleans Pelicans split their four regular-season matchups, with each team winning a game on the other's home floor. The two sides also have star power in different areas, with the Trail Blazers relying on the backcourt combination of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and the Pelicans featuring Anthony Davis down low.

Davis is an MVP candidate and has carried New Orleans since DeMarcus Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, but it will be Lillard time in Game 7 in Portland. The nod goes to the team with home-court advantage in the decisive contest with a battle this close.

Oklahoma City Thunder over Utah Jazz in six games

With all due respect to Donovan Mitchell and his terrific rookie season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to have the best player in this series and home-court advantage.

The thought here is that makes the difference, as Russell Westbrook can enforce his will throughout the series after averaging a triple-double for the second straight season. The Thunder will also have three-time All-Defensive selection Paul George to defend Mitchell at crunch time and Steven Adams to help counter Rudy Gobert down low.

As to be expected in a showdown between the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, many of these games will come down to the wire. The difference will be Westbrook on the offensive end and George and Adams on the defensive side.