Thunder Playoff Scenarios

Weston Shepherd -

The Thunder’s playoff future remains up in the air with one regular season game remaining, so here’s a list of the possible scenarios that depend on the results of this evening’s NBA action.

A few notes:

  • The 1-seed (Golden State) and 5-seed (Utah) are already determined
  • OKC can lock up the 6-seed with a win at Milwaukee
  • Portland is resting Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum this evening — potentially eliminating the possible Thunder/Blazers matchup in the first round if they lose to the Kings tonight.
  • The Thunder are guaranteed to play Portland, Houston, or Denver in the first round
  • The games of note:
    • Thunder @ Bucks / 7:00 PM CT
    • Spurs vs Mavericks / 7:00 PM CT
    • Clippers vs Jazz / 9:30 PM CT
    • Blazers vs Kings / 9:30 PM CT
    • Nuggets @ T-Wolves / 9:30 PM CT

Thunder 6-Seed If….

  • Win vs Bucks, OR Spurs loss
  • Win vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Clippers wins
  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs loss, AND Clippers win

Thunder 7-Seed If….

  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Nuggets win, AND Blazers win, AND Clippers loss
  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Nuggets win, AND Blazers loss, AND Clippers loss
  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Nuggets loss, AND Blazers win, AND Clippers loss
  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Nuggets loss, AND Blazers loss, AND Clippers loss

Thunder 8-Seed If….

  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Nuggets win, AND Blazers win, AND Clippers win
  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Nuggets win, AND Blazers lose, AND Clippers win
  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Nuggets loss, AND Blazers win, AND Clippers win
  • Loss vs Bucks, AND Spurs win, AND Nuggets loss, AND Blazers loss, AND Clippers win

And for a look at how the final seeding could shake out depending on tonight’s results:

via James Smyth