The final spot in the Western Conference playoffs will come down to a weekend play-in, where the No. 9 seed will have to win two games against the No. 8 seed — Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC and, if necessary, Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on ABC — to make the postseason and set up a first-round meeting with the No. 1-seeded Los Angeles Lakers.
This will be the first play-in game to determine a playoff spot since 1956, when the Syracuse Nationals beat the New York Knicks.
This season’s matchup is still up in the air, as the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs all still have a path to the West play-in. Thursday’s results will decide everything.
Here’s how each team gets in.
Note: Win percentage, not overall record, will be used to determine seeding.
MORE: West play-in predictions — who gets in?
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A win, or losses by Memphis, Phoenix and San Antonio
Portland gets the No. 9 seed with …
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A combined two losses from Phoenix, San Antonio or Memphis
Next Game: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Brooklyn Nets | Thursday, 9 p.m. ET
Memphis gets the No. 8 seed with …
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A win and a Portland loss
Memphis gets the No. 9 seed with …
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A win, or losses by Phoenix and San Antonio
Next Game: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies | Thursday, 4 p.m. ET
Phoenix gets the No. 8 seed with …
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A win, combined with a Memphis loss and a Portland loss
Phoenix gets the No. 9 seed with …
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A win, combined with a Memphis loss or a Portland loss
Next Game: Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns | Thursday, 4 p.m. ET
San Antonio gets the No. 8 seed with …
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A win, combined with a Memphis loss, a Phoenix loss and a Portland loss
San Antonio gets the No. 9 seed with …
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A win, plus a combined two losses from Phoenix, Portland or Memphis
Next Game: San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz | Thursday, 6:30 p.m. ET