The Golden State Warriors will enter the final game of the regular season with different playoff implications on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
With a tight race down the stretch for the Western Conference’s five through nine seeds in the playoffs, the Warriors will have the chance to lock up a top-six seed in the playoff picture on Sunday.
If the Warriors win on Sunday against the Trail Blazers, they will ink a top-six seed in the West and avoid the play-in tournament. However, their position as either the five or six seed will depend on the outcome of the Los Angeles Clippers game against the Phoenix Suns.
If the Warriors win and the Clippers lose to the Suns on Sunday, Golden State will be the five seed and meet the Suns in the first round of the playoffs. If the Clippers win, the Warriors will lock up the six seed and play the Sacramento Kings in the opening round of the postseason.
However, a Warriors loss to the Trail Blazers on Sunday will shake things up. The Warriors will then need help to miss the play-in tournament. To secure the six seed with a loss, the Warriors will need the Los Angeles Lakers to lose at home to the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans to lose on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Via @ronkroichick on Twitter:
A loss to the Trail Blazers paired with wins by the Lakers or Pelicans will push the Warriors to the No. 7 or No. 8 seed in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Via @KevinOConnorNBA on Twitter:
The Warriors will tip off against the Trail Blazers on the road in Portland at 12:30 p.m. PT on Sunday. The rest of the NBA slate will also start at the same time to close out the regular season on Sunday afternoon.
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Story originally appeared on Warriors Wire