The NBA playoff race is almost always interesting. But since the Association enacted the NBA Play-In Tournament, it has been more compelling than ever. This year's race — especially in the loaded Western Conference — features countless storylines and a number of different scenarios we're hoping will unfold.
For starters, only three total games separates the sixth-seeded Pelicans (48-32) and the 10th-seeded Lakers (45-35). The Pels, Suns, Kings, Lakers, and Warriors all find themselves hovering at or near Play-In territory, assuring us one of the most star-studded playoff bubbles in the history of sports.
MORE: Updated NBA playoff bracket and clinching scenarios
Friday's tilts between the Suns-Kings and Pelicans-Warriors could be as good as or better than any matchup we'll see in the first round of the playoffs.
We've reached the time of year in which games become "must-win," and the beginning of next week will be "win or go home" for most of these squads. Let's look over the Western Conference standings, the updated NBA Play-In scenarios, and the BetMGM odds, tiebreakers, and remaining schedules for all the teams in the stacked West.
Western Conference Playoff race: Updated standings
| Team | Record | Games back |
Clinched? |
| Denver Nuggets | 56-24 | — | Playoffs |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 55-25 | 1.0 | Playoffs |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 55-25 | 1.0 | Playoffs |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 51-29 | 5.0 | Playoffs |
| Dallas Mavericks | 50-30 | 6.0 | Playoffs |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 48-32 | 8.0 | TBD |
| Phoenix Suns | 47-33 | 9.0 | TBD |
| Sacramento Kings | 45-35 | 11.0 | TBD |
| Golden State Warriors | 45-35 | 11.0 | Play-In |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 44-35 | 11.0 | Play-In |
| Houston Rockets | 39-40 | 16.5 | Eliminated |
As you can see, it's not just the race to the No. 1 seed that has been exciting in the West. The Pels, Suns, and Kings all have a shot at the No. 6 seed, the final guaranteed playoff spot. The two teams that miss that seed will need to win their way in as the seventh or eighth seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
MORE: NBA Finals, conference championship odds
Western Conference Playoff race: Tiebreakers
Here's the order of the NBA's official tiebreaker rules, and how they could affect the Western Conference's playoff bubble:
- Head-to-head record; better record in games with the tied teams
- Division record; better record in games against teams in its own division (only if the teams are in the same division)
- Conference record; better record in games against teams in its own conference
- Winning percentage against playoff teams in its own conference
- Winning percentage against playoff teams in the opposing conference
- Point differential in all games
Western Conference Playoff race: Odds to make/miss the playoffs
| Team | Make | Miss |
| New Orleans Pelicans | -550 | +380 |
| Phoenix Suns | -1400 | +800 |
| Sacramento Kings | +100 | -120 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +220 | -275 |
| Golden State Warriors | +120 | -145 |
As you can see, the sportsbooks expect the Pelicans, Suns, and Kings to make the playoffs. However, oddsmakers will never give massive plus-odds on LeBron James and the Lakers or Steph Curry and the Warriors to make the playoffs.
Every team in this race is very much alive, which makes every game of every day the rest of the regular season and Play-In Tournament all the more important.
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Western Conference Playoff race: Remaining schedules
| Team | Opp. 1 | Opp. 2 |
| Pelicans | @ Warriors (4/12) | vs. Lakers (4/14) |
| Suns | @ Wolves (4/14) | — |
| Kings | vs. Suns (4/12) | vs. Blazers (4/14) |
| Lakers | @ Grizzlies (4/12) | @ Pelicans (4/14) |
| Warriors | vs. Pelicans (4/12) | vs. Jazz (4/14) |
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