Wednesday's Western Conference match-ups with Playoff scenarios:
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves - This IS essentially an NBA Playoff game with the winner qualifying for the actual playoffs and the loser going home. But at what seeding the winner would qualify depends on other results. Denver would love a win and a shocking Memphis upset of Oklahoma City, as that would catapult the Nuggets to a 6-seed and allow them to avoid a first-round meeting vs. Golden State. A Denver win + a more realistic OKC win would result in a 7-seed and a meeting with the Warriors.
Minnesota could be anywhere from a 6-seed to an 8-seed with a win, and here are the possible scenarios:
Wolves win, Spurs win vs. Pelicans, Grizzlies win vs. Thunder: 6-seed
Wolves win, Spurs win vs. Pelicans, Thunder win vs. Grizzlies: 7-seed
Wolves win, Pelicans win vs. Spurs, Grizzlies win vs. Thunder: 7-seed
Wolves win, Pelicans win vs. Spurs, Thunder win vs. Grizzlies: 8-seed
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder - If the Thunder win as expected and Portland wins, OKC would be a 4-seed, If the Thunder win and Utah wins, OKC would be a 6-seed. If Memphis shocks the world here. OKC would be an 8-seed.
San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans - The Pelicans' scenarios are easier to define here. A New Orleans win + Utah win and Pels would be the 5-seed. A NOLA win + Portland win would leave Pels a 6-seed. A NOLA Loss + a HUGE upset win by Memphis and Pels would be a 7-seed. A NOLA Loss + an expected OKC win and Pels would be 8-seed.
As for the Spurs, they could end up anywhere from a 4-seed to an 8-seed. The only thing that is clear-cut as of now is a San Antonio win would guarantee no worse than a 6-seed, thus avoiding Houston and/or Golden State in Round 1. A San Antonio loss however would mean no better than a 7-seed and a guaranteed meeting with one of the Big Two.
Utah Jazz at Portland Trail Blazers - As mentioned yesterday, a Utah win would clinch a 3-seed for the Jazz. A Utah loss would mean a 5-seed if OKC handles Memphis as expected or a 4-seed if Memphis springs the upset. Barring that latter scenario, a Memphis first round meeting with OKC is virtually assured. Assuming a Thunder victory, a Utah win would mean 3-seeded Jazz would have home court over 6-seeded Thunder, a Utah loss would mean 4-seeded Thunder would have home court over 5-seeded Jazz.
The Blazers would also clinch a 3-seed with a win. A loss would make them a 4-seed if OKC wins as expected or a 5-seed with a Memphis stunner.
