The Blazers lead the tight pack of Western Conference teams battling for a playoff spot. Which teams do they have the tiebreaker advantage over?
After defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, the Portland Trail Blazers are alone in third place in the West. But this position is anything but secure – OKC fell from third to seventh with this loss.
The third place Blazers are only four games ahead of the Utah Jazz (currently in 10th). With 19 games left on the schedule, there’s plenty of room for seeding changes. Surely a team or two wrap up the 82 games with the same record, calling for a tiebreaker.
ESPN explains the order of playoff seeding tiebreakers in the NBA. First on the list is head-to-head record. Next comes the division winner, followed by winning percentage in division or conference (depending on the teams tied) games.
Let’s look at how the Blazers meet these criteria going down the stretch.
Head-to-head records
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Dec. 18 – Timberwolves 108-107 Blazers.
- Jan. 14 – Timberwolves 120-103 Blazers.
- Jan. 24 – Timberwolves 114-123 Blazers.
- Mar. 1 – Timberwolves 99-108 Blazers.
The season series between Portland and Minnesota is tied with no games remaining between the two. Both are in the Northwest Division, so the division winner wins the tiebreaker.
New Orleans Pelicans
- Oct. 24 – Pelicans 93-103 Blazers.
- Dec. 2 – Pelicans 123-116 Blazers.
- Jan. 12 – Pelicans 119-113 Blazers.
- Mar. 27 – Blazers @ Pelicans.
With one game to go, New Orleans has the season series advantage. However, the Blazers can tie it up with a victory on March 27. The game is played in New Orleans, but they will be without DeMarcus Cousins for the first time against Portland.
If the Blazers win, each team’s conference record is consulted. As of right now, Portland has the better in-conference record (23-15 compared to 17-19).
San Antonio Spurs
- Dec. 20 – Spurs 93-91 Blazers.
- Jan. 7 – Spurs 110-111 Blazers.
- Apr. 7 – Blazers @ Spurs.
The season series is even between Portland and San Antonio and one game remains. It is the Blazers’ third to last game and will no doubt carry playoff implications – both for overall seeding and tiebreaker purposes.
By then, Kawhi Leonard might be back from injury (who knows), making another Portland win much more difficult.
Because the season series is only three games, head-to-head record is the only potential tiebreaker necessary for the Blazers and Spurs.
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Nov. 5 – Thunder 99-103 Blazers.
- Jan. 9 – Thunder 106-117 Blazers.
- Mar. 3 – Thunder 100-108 Blazers.
- Mar. 25 – Blazers @ Thunder.
Thanks to last night’s impressive win, Portland clinched the season series versus Oklahoma City. No matter the result of game No. 4, the Blazers will have the head-to-head edge in a tiebreaker scenario.
That being said, beating the Thunder is still crucial come March 25. With how tight the West is, a one-game flip can move a team out of the playoff picture.
Denver Nuggets
- Nov. 13 – Nuggets 82-99 Blazers.
- Dec. 22 – Nuggets 102-85 Blazers.
- Jan. 22 – Nuggets 104-101 Blazers.
- Apr. 9 – Blazers @ Nuggets.
Like with New Orleans, Portland trail this season series with one game left. A win on April 9 results in the same scenario as Minnesota. All in the Northwest Division, a tie with Denver (assuming the Blazers win on April 9) calls on the division champion to earn the high seed.
Let’s hope for a repeat of last year with the Nuggets (I’m looking at you, Nurk).
Los Angeles Clippers
- Oct. 26 – Clippers 104-103 Blazers.
- Jan. 30 – Clippers 104-96 Blazers.
- Mar. 18 – Blazers @ Clippers.
See: San Antonio Spurs situation.
With Blake Griffin out of town, the Blazers stand a better chance of winning this season series.
Utah Jazz
- Nov. 1 – Jazz 112-103 Blazers (OT).
- Feb. 11 – Jazz 115-96 Blazers.
- Feb. 23 – Jazz 81-100 Blazers.
- Apr. 11 – Jazz @ Blazers.
See: New Orleans Pelicans situation.
The Utah Jazz are a few games out of the playoffs after their big 11-game win streak (that Portland snapped). Unless this level of play continues, Utah may not be in such a position to tie with Portland.
Next: Write about the Portland Trail Blazers at Rip City Project
Overall, only one playoff tiebreaker is already determined for Portland. Games down the stretch against Western Conference competition aren’t only important for playoff seeding, but also in the chance of a tie with any one of them.