The NBA playoffs field is almost entirely set. We know who the top-six seeds are in each conference; all that is left is figuring out who will be the seventh and eighth seeds. Those spots will be determined in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The tournament was introduced during the 2021 postseason and looks like it will be a permanent fixture in the league. It gives a chance to more teams to earn a spot in the postseason and also incentivizes finishing in the top-six, as you are guaranteed to be in the field.
One of the play-in matchups that will be taking place in the Western Conference is the LA Clippers traveling to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota finished the season in the seventh seed, going 46-36. As a result, they will host the eighth-seeded Clippers, who went 42-20.
This season was a coming-out party for Minnesota, who has turned things around under Chris Finch with their trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D’Angelo Russell. This is only their second winning record since 2004, with the last coming during the 2017-18 season.
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Had it not been for that one season with Jimmy Butler, the Timberwolves would own the title for longest playoff drought in NBA history, which the Sacramento Kings took sole possession of this season.
If they want to qualify for the postseason, however, there is still some work to be done. Whoever loses the matchup between the LA Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night will host the winner of the 9 vs. 10 seed matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs.
Who will come away victorious in the first NBA Play-In Game in the Western Conference? Here are three things to watch for that will help determine which team comes out victorious.
