NBA playoff scenarios: Kings can clinch with win vs. Trail Blazers

After 17 long years without an NBA playoff appearance, anxious Kings fans have had to do what they’ve done for nearly two decades: wait.

Wait for the moment when the team they’ve loved and supported all their lives officially clinches a playoff berth for the first time since 2006. And it finally could happen on Wednesday.

Again, there are a couple of different ways Sacramento can secure a spot in the postseason Wednesday: a win against the tanking Portland Trail Blazers, a Minnesota Timberwolves loss or a Los Angeles Clippers loss. Any one of those three scenarios can happen for the Kings to clinch.

Tonight, the Sacramento Kings can become the third team from the Western Conference to clinch a spot in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The Kings visit the Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET on the NBA App.

Today's scenarios ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2253sRvdhS
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) March 29, 2023

But there’s a twist this time around.

The simple scenario is if the Kings beat the Trail Blazers, they clinch the Western Conference's No. 4 seed (at least) and will have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Now, if the Clippers lose to the Memphis Grizzlies or the Timberwolves lose to the Phoenix Suns, they clinch the No. 6 seed. But if both of those happen, they clinch the No. 5 seed.

Here is what's at stake for the Kings tonight.

A Clippers loss to Grizzlies OR Timberwolves loss to Suns the Kings are in and clinch 6th.

A Clippers loss AND T-Wolves loss and Kings clinch 5th.

Kings beat the Blazers and they clinch 4th and homecourt advantage in round 1.
— Jason Ross (@JasonRoss1140) March 29, 2023

Since Sunday, the Kings have had five different opportunities to clinch a playoff berth. But their loss to the Timberwolves on Monday and no help from other teams has them back in control of their own fate on Wednesday.