The Warriors will have a better idea of which teams will round out the remainder of the 2020 NBA Draft lottery after Thursday.
Four teams remain in contention for eighth and ninth place in the Western Conference and, thus, a potential play-in series to clinch the NBA's only remaining playoff spot up for grabs.
The Portland Trail Blazers (34-39), Memphis Grizzlies (33-39), Phoenix Suns (33-39) and San Antonio Spurs (32-38) all have a chance to finish No. 8 in the West and play the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, depending on the results of the last day of the restarted NBA season.
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The Grizzlies will play the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks at 1 p.m. PT, while the reigning MVP serves a one-game suspension after headbutting Washington Wizards big man Mo Wagner. The Suns play against the Dallas Mavericks at the same time, the Spurs play the Utah Jazz at 3:30 p.m. PT, and the Trail Blazers play the Brooklyn Nets at 6 p.m PT.
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None of the four aforementioned playoff chasers will be satisfied with clinching ninth, as the No. 9 seed would have to beat No. 8 twice in order to advance to the playoffs. No. 8, by contrast, would need to win only once.
So, how can Portland, Memphis, Phoenix and San Antonio advance to a seeding game, and how will two of the teams join Golden State in the draft lottery? Here are all the scenarios ahead of the last day of the regular season.
Blazers
- Clinch No. 8 if they win or the Grizzlies, Suns and Spurs lose
- Clinch No. 9 if they lose and two of the Grizzlies, Suns and Spurs lose
- Eliminated if they lose and two of the Grizzlies, Suns and Spurs win
Grizzlies
- Clinch No. 8 if they win and the Blazers lose
- Clinch No. 9 if they win and the Blazers win or the Grizzlies, Suns and Spurs lose
- Eliminated if they lose and the Suns or Spurs win
Suns
- Clinch No. 8 if they win and the Blazers and Grizzlies lose
- Clinch No. 9 if they win and the Blazers or Grizzlies lose
- Eliminated if they lose
Spurs
- Clinch No. 8 if they win and the Blazers and Grizzlies lose
- Clinch No. 9 if they win and two of the Blazers, Grizzlies and Suns lose
- Eliminated if they lose
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Golden State Warriors
Got all that?
After Thursday, the Warriors will know two teams that are joining them in the Aug. 20 lottery. Golden State will know the third no later than Sunday, depending upon the results of the play-in game (or games, if necessary).