Just two games remain on the regular season schedule for the Minnesota Timberwolves and they could still finish anywhere from fifth to ninth in the crowded Western Conference playoff race.
They’ll need a lot of help to finish fifth or sixth, which would allow them to avoid the play-in tournament and be guaranteed a full series in the playoffs. If they do wind up in the play-in tournament, finish seventh or eighth would guarantee them two games while finishing ninth would put them in a must-win situation to keep their true postseason hopes alive. They cannot finish lower than ninth.
The Timberwolves get the No. 5 seed if….
- Wolves win out and finish 42-40…
- And the Warriors lose out…
- And the Clippers lose out…
- And the Lakers go 1-1 or 0-2…
- And the Pelicans go 1-1 or 0-2…
The Warriors play Friday at Sacramento and Sunday at Portland.
The Clippers host Portland Saturday and play at Phoenix Sunday.
The Lakers host Phoenix Friday and host Utah Sunday.
The Pelicans host New York Friday and play at Minnesota Sunday.
Synopsis: In this scenario, it would be possible for the Wolves, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers and Pelicans to all finish 42-40. Minnesota would own the tiebreaker over all of them.
The Timberwolves get the No. 6 seed if….
- Wolves win out and finish 42-40…
- And one of the Warriors or Clippers finish 43-39…
- And one of the Warriors or Clippers finish 42-40…
- And the Clippers win at least one of their final two games…
- And the Lakers finish 42-40 or 41-41…
Synopsis: The Wolves cannot do better than seventh if they don’t finish with 42 wins.
The Timberwolves get the No. 7 seed if….
Scenario A: Wolves win out (final record: 42-40)
- Wolves win out to finish 42-40…
- And Warriors win at least one more game…
- And Clippers win at least one more game…
- And the Lakers finish 42-40 or 41-41
Synopsis: In this scenario, the Wolves would own the tiebreaker over the Lakers if the Lakers were to finish 42-40.
Scenario B: Wolves beat Pelicans, lose to Spurs (final record: 41-41)
- Wolves lose to Spurs, beat Pelicans to finish 41-41…
- And the Lakers lose out to finish 41-41…
- And the Pelicans lose out to finish 41-41…
Synopsis: In this scenario, Minnesota would still own tiebreakers over the Lakers and Pelicans.
The Timberwolves get the No. 8 seed if….
Scenario A: Wolves win out (final record 42-40)
- Wolves win out to finish 42-40…
- And the Warriors win at least one more game…
- And the Clippers win at least one more game…
- And the Lakers win out to finish 43-39…
Synopsis: In this scenario, Warriors, Clippers and Lakers would take the 5-7 seeds and the Wolves would get the No. 8 seed over the Pelicans.
Scenario B: Wolves lose to Spurs, beat Pelicans (final record: 41-41)
- Wolves lose to Spurs, beat Pelicans to finish 41-41…
- And the Lakers win at least one more game to get to 42 wins…
- And Pelicans lose out to finish 41-41…
Synopsis: In this scenario, the Wolves win the tiebreaker over the Pelicans thanks to a better head-to-head record (2-1). The season series is currently split 1-1.
The Timberwolves get the No. 9 seed if….
Scenario A: Wolves finish 41-41
- Wolves split final two games to finish 41-41…
- And the Lakers win at least one more game to get to 42 wins…
- And the Pelicans win one more game to get to 42 wins…
Synopsis: In this scenario, Minnesota would own a potential tiebreaker over Oklahoma City if the Thunder win out to finish 41-41. Dallas cannot catch the Timberwolves.
Scenario B: Wolves finish 40-42…
- Wolves lose out to finish 40-42…
Synopsis: It doesn’t matter what OKC does because they already have 42 losses and they cannot win a tiebreaker over Minnesota. The same goes for Dallas, who cannot finish with more than 40 wins.
