Jazz Lock Up Fifth Seed; Will Play Either Houston Or Portland
Apr 10, 2019, 4:08 PM
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) flexes his muscles as Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) pumps his fists after Gorbert drove past Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap (4) for a basket during the Utah Jazz versus Denver Nuggets NBA game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Only two teams in the Western Conference have clinched their seeds. The Golden State Warriors are the No. 1 team, while the Jazz will be the No. 5-seed.
The Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers are still fighting for certain seeds on the last night of the regular season. The Houston Rockets have completed their schedule and will await the results.
Here’s a look at the seeding scenarios in the Western Conference:
1. Golden State Warriors (57-24)
Next up: at Memphis Grizzlies (32-49), Wednesday.
The Warriors already have the top seed in the West locked up and will likely rest their starters and key players in their regular season finale.
Last regular-season game of the year. Let's finish strong 💪 pic.twitter.com/6F3k4H6LsC
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 10, 2019
2. Denver Nuggets (53-28)
Games behind: 4
Next up: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (36-45), Wednesday.
Denver made things more difficult when they lost to the Jazz on Tuesday. They will clinch the No. 2-seed with a win against the Timberwolves and will drop to No. 3 with a loss.
DIVISION CHAMPS 🏆
🔗 | https://t.co/DRD7dq2zSC#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/LPuuCX0cEu
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 10, 2019
3. Houston Rockets (53-29)
Games behind: 4.5
The Rockets lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the buzzer on Tuesday. They have finished their 82-game schedule and will now wait for other results to determine their seeding. If Denver loses to Minnesota, they will move up to No. 2. if Denver and Portland both win, they will be the No 4-seed and face the Jazz in the playoffs. If Denver wins and Portland loses, the Rockets stay at No. 3.
"We're ready. This one is over. Now it's time to prepare for something big."@JHarden13 on moving the mindset to playoffs. pic.twitter.com/xkib1VXAxX
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 10, 2019
4. Portland Trail Blazers (52-29)
Games behind: 5
Next up: vs. Sacramento Kings (39-42), Wednesday.
Mo Harkless hit the game-winner to help the Trail Blazers beat the Lakers on Tuesday night. They are guaranteed home court advantage in the first round. Portland needs to beat the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets need to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves for the Blazers to reach the No. 3 spot.
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are both OUT due to "load management" for tonight's regular season finale vs. Kings.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) April 10, 2019
5. Utah Jazz (50-31)
Games behind: 7
Next up: at Los Angeles Clippers (47-34), Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The Jazz have locked up the No. 5-seed in the playoff standings. They will rest Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, Kyle Korver and others.
Tonight’s injury report: pic.twitter.com/2SQYnXagrN
— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 10, 2019
6. Oklahoma City Thunder (48-33)
Games behind: 9
Next up: at Milwaukee Bucks (60-21), Wednesday.
After a buzzer-beating win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder sit in the sixth spot in the west. They will be the No. 6-seed with a win over a Spurs loss to the Mavericks. If they lose to the Bucks and San Antonio defeats Dallas, OKC will drop to No. 7.
The Bucks haven’t announced if they are resting any players.
Game 82. pic.twitter.com/SKW040WgYC
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 10, 2019
7. San Antonio Spurs (47-34)
Games behind: 10
Next up: vs. Dallas (33-48), Wednesday.
The Spurs need to beat Dallas to end the season with no-worse than the No. 7-seed. They can get the sixth spot if they win and Oklahoma City loses to Milwaukee. San Antonio will drop to eighth if they lose to the Mavericks and the Clippers beat the Jazz.
Last regular season shootaround ☑️#GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/IpwZAfQVoN
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 10, 2019
8. LA Clippers (47-34)
Games behind: 10
Next up: vs. Utah Jazz (50-31), Monday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The Clippers need to beat the Jazz and have the Spurs lose to Dallas to move up to No. 7-seed. The Jazz are resting most of their key players.
No. 82 of 82 pic.twitter.com/1JCx1Gozl1
— x – LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 10, 2019
