NBA Western Conference playoff picture: Nuggets clinch top-six seed; Lakers jump Thunder, take hold of No. 9

The Denver Nuggets clinched at least a top-six seed with a win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, joining the Milwaukee Bucks as the first two teams to seal playoff spots. 

Below is a comprehensive snapshot of where things stand in the Western Conference playoff and play-in races entering play on Friday. This post will update daily throughout the remainder of the regular season or until all seeds are clinched. 

Reminder on how the play-in tournament works: No. 7 plays No. 8 and No. 9 plays No. 10. The winner of the 7-8 game gets the No. 7 seed, while the loser plays the winner of the 9-10 game for the  No. 8 seed. 

READ: Eastern Conference playoff picture

NOTE: Our SportsLine model, developed by predictive data engineer Stephen Oh, simulates the entire season 10,000 times to produce the most unbiased and precise projections imaginable.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

• Projected seed: 1
• Current first-round matchup: TBD
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Nuggets have clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Season series tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Nuggets lead season series 2-0 with two to play

• Projected seed: 3
• Current first-round matchup: Winner of Timberwolves/Mavericks play-in
• Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Kings currently own via conference win percentage 
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play

• Projected seed: 2
• Current first-round matchup: vs. Warriors
• Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Nuggets have clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Kings currently own via conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Grizzlies own via division leader

4. Phoenix Suns (38-32)

• Projected seed: 4
• Current first-round matchup: vs. Clippers
• Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Grizzlies own via division leader
• Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Phoenix leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Suns have clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Suns currently own via conference win percentage
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play

5. Los Angeles Clippers (37-33)

• Projected seed: 5
• Current first-round matchup: at Suns
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Clippers lead via division win percentage
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks currently own via conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans lead 1-0 with two to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Clippers clinched

6. Golden State Warriors (36-34)

• Projected seed: 6
• Current first-round matchup: at Grizzlies
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns have clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers lead via division win percentage
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Warriors clinched

Play-In Tournament

7. Minnesota Timberwolves (35-35)

• Projected seed: 8
• Current first-round matchup: vs. Mavericks (play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Wolves clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Wolves currently own via division record
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Wolves clinched

8. Dallas Mavericks (35-35)

• Projected seed: 9
• Current first-round matchup: at Timberwolves (play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns owns via conference win percentage
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves clinched 
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Dallas currently owns via conference record
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play

9. Los Angeles Lakers (34-36)

• Projected seed: 7
• Current first-round matchup: vs. Thunder (play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Lakers clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz lead 2-0 with two to play
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers currently own via conference win percentage

• Projected seed: 10
• Current first-round matchup: at Lakers (play-in)
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah: OKC leads 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: OKC clinched

Outside Looking In

11. Utah Jazz (33-36)

• Projected seed: Lottery
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Jazz Clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Jazz lead 2-0 with two to play
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Thunder lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play

12. New Orleans Pelicans (33-36)

• Projected seed: Lottery
• Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Pelicans lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves:  Tied 1-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Pelicans clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Pelicans clinched

• Projected seed: Lottery
• Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play
• Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Blazers currently own via conference win percentage
• Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans clinched
• Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Thunder clinched