Play-In Incoming for Tied-for-Ninth Warriors

After their 117-113 victory against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, the Warriors stand tied for ninth in the Western Conference with a 31-30 record. In most seasons, this would mean Golden State is on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. This season, however, an added wrinkle to the postseason is coming to the Warriors’ aid – the ninth and 10th seeds in each conference will play one game for a chance to take on the loser of a game between the seventh and eighth seeds, with the winner of that second contest securing a first round series against the No. 1 seed.

And with the May 18 start to the Play-In Tournament quickly approaching, let’s take a look at which teams, based on the current seeding, could be in the mix in the first-of-its-kind competition.

Sixth Seed – Dallas Mavericks (33-26, 1.5 games behind the Lakers for fifth seed)

Next five games: at SAC, at GSW, at DET, vs. WAS, vs. SAC

The Mavericks sit just ahead of having to play in the tournament, and they have certainly indicated they want to avoid the unprecedented format. Owner Mark Cuban, who actually voted to approve the playing of the tournament, said it was “an enormous mistake” in hindsight, while star forward Luka Doncic – who leads the team with 28.5 points and 8.8 assists per game – also expressed his unease with the idea. The irony of it all is that much of their criticism coincided with some of Stephen Curry’s most ridiculous play this year, making it seem like their disapproval is more out of fear of facing Curry with the season on the line than anything else. 


Seventh Seed – Portland Trail Blazers (32-28, 1.5 games behind Dallas)
Next five games: at IND, at MEM, at BRK, at BOS, at ATL

Following extended absences because of injury for CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic, Portland now has its core back and healthy with the two complementing Damian Lillard. Despite that good news, the Trail Blazers are in the midst of a five-game skid, losing their last two games at home to the Grizzlies, who now lurk only half a game behind them in the standings. Coach Terry Stotts said Sunday his team needs to “play with a sense of desperation,” and with another matchup against the Grizzlies in Memphis looming, it remains to be seen how the desperation will translate.



Eighth Seed – Memphis Grizzlies (31-28, 0.5 games behind Portland)

Next five games: at DEN, vs. POR, vs. ORL, at ORL, vs. NYK

Memphis is on the other side of the recent doubleheader sweep in Portland, and the Grizzlies are finding their groove in Ja Morant’s second professional season. But Morant isn’t shouldering all of the burden – Memphis has seven regulars averaging double-digit points per game. The Grizzlies fell to the Trail Blazers in last season’s abbreviated play-in in the Bubble, but a second full season for Morant in the organization could translate to more playoff success if they get past the initial hurdle of qualifying.

T-Ninth Seed – San Antonio Spurs (30-29, 1.0 game behind Memphis)

Next five games: at WAS, at MIA, at BOS, vs. PHI, at UTA


For 22 seasons, you could pretty much pencil in the Spurs under Gregg Popovich as a playoff team. That is, until last season, when San Antonio left the Bubble without playing extra games at the end of the campaign. Now, with LaMarcus Aldridge bought out (and now retired after a cup of coffee with the Nets), four-time All-Star guard/forward DeMar DeRozan paces the team in scoring, with the young backcourt of Dejounte Murray and Derrick White emerging to each chip in over 15 points per game. Gone are almost all remnants of the Duncan/Parker/Ginobili era, and the playoff success of the reshaped team could begin through an unconventional play-in.


T-Ninth Seed – Golden State Warriors (31-30)

Next five games: vs. DAL, at MIN, at HOU, at NOP, at NOP

Knotted up with the Spurs are the Warriors, who boast the most battle-tested player on this list in their two-time NBA MVP. Curry has performed up to his previous MVP levels this season, but the team has shown a propensity to lose winnable games with two unfortunate losses to the Washington Wizards standing out as especially stinging. Golden State does enjoy a pretty comfortable lead over 11th-seeded New Orleans – who it will play twice in a row at the start of May – and whether it puts together another “We Believe”-esque run will depend on which other players come along for the ride with Curry.



11th Seed – New Orleans Pelicans (26-34, 4.5 games behind Golden State and San Antonio)

Next five games: vs. LAC, at DEN, at OKC, at MIN, vs. GSW


While behind the Warriors in the standings, the Pelicans are right with them in terms of losing heartbreakers. New Orleans has blown more than a dozen games during which it has held a double-digit lead, and lost to San Antonio on Saturday by just two points. In its first season under Stan Van Gundy, it has seen good things from forward Brandon Ingram – who was an All-Star last season – and is paced in scoring by 2021 All-Star Zion Williamson, who is averaging 27 points per contest in his second season out of Duke. The Pelicans’ inexperience, however, has shown through, and while they have the talent, even an expanded postseason seems just out of their grasp.