Thunder Playoff Scenarios
Although the Thunder has locked in its playoff spot, figuring out where OKC will end up in the seeding is a painstaking exercise. Oklahoma City could end up anywhere between 4 and 8 in the Western Conference, with five games around the NBA heavily impacting how it all shakes out. Those five games with the current standings in parenthesis:
Tonight:
Golden State (2) @ Utah (4)
Tomorrow:
Denver (9) @ Minnesota (8)
San Antonio (6) @ New Orleans (5)
Memphis (14) @ OKC (7)
Utah (4) @ Portland (3)
Now that we’ve established the games that may swing things in a number of directions, here’s how the Thunder can end up with anything between the 4-seed and the 8-seed. Anything better or worse is out of the question. OKC can promise itself no-worse than sixth with a win over Memphis in tomorrow’s regular season finale. Here goes nothing.
Eight ways the Thunder gets the 4-Seed
| Scenario # | Warriors @ Jazz | Nuggets @ Wolves | Spurs @ Pelicans | Grizzlies @ Thunder | Jazz @ Blazers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |  |  |  |  |
| 2 | | |  | | |
| 3 | |  | | | |
| 4 | | | | | |
| 5 | | | | |  |
| 6 | | | | | |
| 7 | | | | | |
| 8 | | | | | |
Opponent By Scenario:
Regardless which scenario played out, it would be (4) Thunder vs (5) Jazz in the first round.
Four ways the Thunder gets the 5-Seed
| Scenario # | Warriors @ Jazz | Nuggets @ Wolves | Spurs @ Pelicans | Grizzlies @ Thunder | Jazz @ Blazers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | | | | |
| 2 | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | | | | | |
Opponent By Scenario:
- (4) Pelicans vs (5) Thunder
- (4) Spurs vs (5) Thunder
- (4) Pelicans vs (5) Thunder
- (4) Spurs vs (5) Thunder
Six ways the Thunder gets the 6-Seed
| Scenario # | Warriors @ Jazz | Nuggets @ Wolves | Spurs @ Pelicans | Grizzlies @ Thunder | Jazz @ Blazers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | | |  | |
| 2 | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | | | | | |
| 5 | | | | | |
| 6 | | | | | |
Opponent By Scenario:
- (3) Blazers vs (6) Thunder
- (3) Blazers vs (6) Thunder
- (3) Jazz vs (6) Thunder
- (3) Jazz vs (6) Thunder
- (3) Jazz vs (6) Thunder
- (3) Jazz vs (6) Thunder
Two ways the Thunder gets the 7-Seed
| Scenario # | Warriors @ Jazz | Nuggets @ Wolves | Spurs @ Pelicans | Grizzlies @ Thunder | Jazz @ Blazers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | | | | |
| 2 | | | | | |
Opponent By Scenario:
With Golden State firmly in the two-seed, it would be (2) Warriors vs (7) Thunder if OKC ended up in seventh.
Twelve ways the Thunder gets the 8-Seed
| Scenario # | Warriors @ Jazz | Nuggets @ Wolves | Spurs @ Pelicans | Grizzlies @ Thunder | Jazz @ Blazers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | | | | |
| 2 | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | | | | | |
| 5 | | | | | |
| 6 | | | | | |
| 7 | | | | | |
| 8 | | | | | |
| 9 | | | | | |
| 10 | | | | | |
| 11 | | | | | |
| 12 | | | | | |
Opponent By Scenario:
If OKC slips to eighth, it would be (1) Houston vs (8) Thunder in the first round.
Hopefully you’re not more confused now than you were when you started reading. Either way — the playoff math will be over soon enough.
