Sports
NBA playoffs: Updated standings for Warriors, Kings, and Lakers – Golden State of Mind
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Where are the Warriors ahead of the season finale?
On Thursday, everything that needed to go right for the Golden State Warriors went right. They beat the Portland Trail Blazers while the Sacramento Kings lost to the New Orleans Pelicans. It helped the Dubs move up in the standings, with a chance at moving up further.
But Friday brought a different reality. There were three games that had important implications for the Warriors in the Play-In Tournament standings, and only one of those three games went their way.
All three games came down to the final possession, making it a thrilling — if frustrating — day of watching basketball. The Dubs themselves couldn’t overcome their turnover issues, or the blistering shooting of the Pelicans, losing 114-109. The Lakers, meanwhile, tried very hard to lose to a lottery-bound Memphis Grizzlies team with a starting five of Scotty Pippen Jr., Jordan Goodwin, GG Jackson, Jake LaRavia, and Trey Jemison, but emerged victorious, 123-120. Only the Kings could salvage the day a little, as they once again blew a big second-half lead to lose to the Phoenix Suns 108-107.
By virtue of losing while the Lakers won, the Warriors slid back into the No. 10 spot. But because the Kings lost, the No. 8 spot remains a possibility for the Dubs — albeit an unlikely one.
So let’s go over all the possible outcomes.
First, let’s lay out the schedule. The NBA is taking Saturday off, so that all 30 teams can end their seasons on Sunday, fully rested. The Warriors will be at home, taking on the Utah Jazz. The Kings will also be at home, hosting the Blazers. And the Lakers will be on the road, visiting the Pelicans. All three of those games take place at 12:30 p.m. PT.
The Warriors only chance of moving up in the standings is by winning. If they lose to the Jazz, they will be in the No. 10 spot. But if they win, they have a chance of moving up.
Doing so requires help from the Pelicans and Blazers, though. The Warriors will move past both the Lakers and the Kings if those teams lose and Golden State wins.
So here’s what it looks like if the Warriors beat the Jazz: if the Lakers and Kings both lose, the Warriors are No. 8, the Lakers are No. 9, and the Kings are No. 10; if the Lakers win and the Kings lose, the Lakers are No. 8, the Warriors are No. 9, and the Kings are No. 10; if the Lakers lose and the Kings win, the Kings are No. 8, the Warriors are No. 9, and the Lakers are No. 10; if everyone wins, the Lakers are No. 8, the Kings are No. 9, and the Warriors are No. 10.
Here’s the simpler version that takes matchups out of it: root for the Warriors to win and the Kings and Lakers to lose. If all three of those things happen, the Warriors are No. 8. If the Warriors and one of the Kings or Lakers loses, the Warriors are No. 9. If none or only one of those things happen, the Warriors are No. 10.
There are reasons for optimism, though I wouldn’t bet on the Dubs jumping to No. 8. The Warriors will be heavily favored at home against the Jazz, a team they’re 3-0 against this year … including a win on Sunday without Steph Curry. And the Lakers will be underdogs against the Pelicans; not only is New Orleans the better team, but they have even more at stake, as their fight to make the playoffs outright, instead of through the Play-In Tournament, comes down to Sunday’s games. On top of that, New Orleans is playing at home, and Anthony Davis and LeBron James, already dinged up, had to play a combined 84 minutes on Friday night to beat Memphis.
It will require a bit more luck for the Kings to lose, seeing as how they’re at home facing a depleted Blazers team. But the Warriors just saw firsthand that Portland can put up a fight, and in two games this year, the Blazers have blown out the Kings once, and taken them to overtime in the other game. Sacramento is also spiraling a bit, having lost five of their last six games (admittedly against good competition).
The Warriors would be sitting in the driver’s seat had they won on Friday, but that’s just how it goes. They still have a chance to climb one — or maybe even two — spots on Sunday. It should be a compelling day of watching basketball.
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