Pelicans’ Win Over Kings Impact Suns’ Playoff Seed
The New Orleans Pelicans’ 135-123 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday had significant implications for the Phoenix Suns’ playoff seed. The Suns are currently in the No. 7 seed, two games behind the Kings for the No. 6 seed and one game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, who are tied for the No. 8 seed.
Tiebreaker Scenarios
**If the Suns Win One Game:**
* Phoenix will lock up the No. 6 seed if they defeat the Kings on Friday.
* If the Suns win one game and the Pelicans lose both, Phoenix will move up to the No. 6 seed.
**If the Suns Lose Both Games:**
* Phoenix cannot drop below the No. 8 seed.
* If the Kings, Lakers, and Warriors all win their remaining games, the Suns will be involved in a four-way tie for the No. 8 seed.
**Head-to-Head Tiebreaker:**
* Suns hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Pelicans.
* Kings, Lakers, and Warriors are all tied at 9-4 in head-to-head matchups.
**Division Tiebreaker:**
* Suns have an 8-10 record in the Pacific Division, while the Warriors have a 7-9 record.
Remaining Schedules
* **Kings:** vs. Suns (April 12), vs. Trail Blazers (April 14)
* **Lakers:** at Grizzlies (April 12), at Pelicans (April 14)
* **Warriors:** vs. Pelicans (April 12), vs. Jazz (April 14)
The Big Picture
The Suns need to win at least one of their remaining games to secure a more favorable playoff matchup. A win against the Kings on Friday would guarantee the Suns at least a No. 7 seed, while a loss could result in a play-in scenario.
The Western Conference standings are still fluid, but the Pelicans’ victory over the Kings has added some clarity to the race for the No. 6 seed. The Suns’ fate will be determined by their own performance and the results of the teams around them in the final two games of the regular season.
also read:Phoenix Suns: Rising to the Top
Mehek