Damian Lillard missed a pair of late free throws, and the Portland Trail Blazers suffered a potentially pivotal loss to the Clippers as they continue to vie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. With the loss, Portland now trails No. 8 Memphis but continues to hold the inside track on the No. 9 spot and a spot in a play-in series … barely. The Suns and Spurs are both a half game back of Portland.
Reminder: At the conclusion of each team’s eight seeding games, the top seven seeds in each conference will be locked. At that point, if the No. 9 seed is within four games of the No. 8 seed, those two will decide the final spot via a play-in series, with the lower seed having to beat the higher seed twice, but the higher seed only needing to win once.
Here’s a rundown of Saturday’s bubble results:
Below is a look at where the playoff picture stands, from seeds to current matchups.
*This article will update at the conclusion of each night until the seeding games conclude.
Western Conference
Team/Seed | Record | Current Matchup |
---|---|---|
1. Lakers |
51-18 (–) |
vs. Grizzlies/Blazers |
2. Clippers |
47-22 (4.5 GB) |
vs. Mavericks |
3. Nuggets |
46-24 (6 GB) |
vs. Thunder |
4. Rockets |
43-25 (8 GB) |
vs. Jazz |
5. Thunder |
42-26 (9 GB) |
vs. Rockets |
6. Jazz |
43-27 (9 GB) |
vs. Nuggets |
7. Mavericks |
42-30 (11 GB) |
vs. Clippers |
8. Grizzlies |
33-37 (19 GB) |
vs. Blazers (Play-in) |
The Thunder and Jazz flip-flop seeds again after Utah’s loss to Denver, which strengthened the Nuggets’ grip on the No 3 seed over the Rockets. Memphis has a bit more breathing room at No. 8 for the moment.
Race for No. 8
Team | Record | Games Behind No. 8 Seed |
---|---|---|
9. Trail Blazers |
32-39 |
1.5 GB |
10. Suns |
31-39 |
2 GB |
11. Spurs |
30-38 |
2 GB |
12. Pelicans |
30-39 |
2.5 GB |
13. Kings |
29-40 |
3.5 GB |
The Blazers continue to have the inside track on a play-in series with Memphis because they will have the tiebreaker based on winning percentage, but the Suns are coming. Phoenix moved to 5-0 in the bubble with a victory over Miami on Saturday.
Eastern Conference
Team/Seed | Record | Current Matchup |
---|---|---|
1. Bucks |
55-15 (–) |
vs. Magic |
2. Raptors |
49-19 (5.5 GB) |
vs. Nets |
3. Celtics |
46-23 (9 GB) |
vs. 76ers |
4. Heat |
43-26 (12 GB) |
vs. Pacers |
5. Pacers |
43-27 (12.5 GB) |
vs. Heat |
6. 76ers |
42-27 (13 GB) |
vs. Celtics |
7. Nets |
33-36 (22 GB) |
vs. Raptors |
8. Magic |
32-38 (23.5 GB) |
vs. Bucks |
No change in the Eastern Conference standings on Saturday.
There is no race for the No. 8 seed in the East. The Wizards have been mathematically eliminated.