Every passing day is shaking up the Western Conference's tightly contested middle class. As of Monday, five teams seeded between No. 4 and No. 8 were all tied in the loss column, making every game for these teams crucial in the standings. Recently, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies faced off on Thursday, where a standout performance from Anthony Edwards, who scored 44 points, led Minnesota to a decisive victory with a final score of 141-125. This win was monumental not just for the Timberwolves but also had significant implications for the entire playoff picture.
Surprisingly, the biggest winner from Minnesota's triumph wasn't the Timberwolves themselves. Instead, it was the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors had suffered a shocking loss to the San Antonio Spurs on a buzzer-beater by Harrison Barnes, which had previously dropped them into the Play-In Tournament. However, with Minnesota's win, the Warriors climbed back to No. 6 in the standings, allowing them to regain control of their destiny. If they can secure victories against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, they are guaranteed a top-six seed in the playoffs.
The exact seed for the Warriors remains uncertain, as two critical games are still on the schedule that could impact the entire group of teams fighting for playoff positions. On Friday, the Grizzlies will need to recover from their recent loss to the Timberwolves when they face off against the Denver Nuggets. This matchup is significant for both teams, especially considering that both franchises made the surprising decision to fire their head coaches late in the season. They are now in a race to avoid the Play-In Tournament and secure their spots in the playoffs.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the Warriors will clash with the Clippers, a matchup that could be pivotal in the playoff race. Both teams are arguably the most formidable challengers in the Western Conference, aside from the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Since the trade deadline, the Warriors have posted an impressive 22-7 record, giving them the second-best record in the West during that stretch. The Clippers are not far behind, boasting a 20-9 record and a +8.9 net rating, which closely trails Golden State's +9.5 mark.
These two teams, under normal circumstances, could very well meet in the Western Conference finals. However, depending on the outcomes of the next few days, they might also find themselves facing off in the first round of the playoffs or even missing the playoffs entirely through the Play-In Tournament. The stakes are undeniably high, and every game will be crucial as the playoff picture continues to evolve in the Western Conference.
