Timberwolves Talk: NBA Play-In Tournament and NBA Playoffs

What of the Timberwolves’ Play-In scenarios?

Even with one game remaining, the Minnesota Timberwolves are still in the running for the seventh, eighth, or ninth seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament. And we won’t know which seeding the Timberwolves claim until we find the results of the Timberwolves’ final game. So let’s break it all down for you. What must happen for the Timberwolves to enter the NBA Play-In Tournament at the three seeding options?  Let’s break it down for you:

Ninth seed

The Minnesota Timberwolves are currently the ninth-seeded team in the NBA Western Conference. So it falls to reason that doing nothing will result in the Timberwolves entering the NBA Play-In Tournament as the ninth seed. If the Minnesota Timberwolves lose today’s game to the New Orleans Pelicans, the team will end the regular season with a record of 41-41 and will become the ninth seed for the NBA Play-in Tournament.

That will result in the Minnesota Timberwolves hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at Target Center. To earn a berth in the NBA Playoffs, the Timberwolves will need to win both games in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Curiously, ninth-seeded teams have had success at competing in the NBA Playoffs in the past.

Eighth seed

The highest seeding possible for the Minnesota Timberwolves to claim under their own control is the eighth-seeded team in the NBA Western Conference. To do so, the Timberwolves must defeat the New Orleans Pelicans at Target Center today. Should the Timberwolves win, they will do no worse than the eighth seed and will have two chances to win one game to earn a berth in the NBA Playoffs.

Either the Minnesota Timberwolves defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to earn the seventh seed in the NBA Playoffs, or the Timberwolves must then face the winner of the Thunder vs Pelicans contest on Friday, April 14, 2023.. If the Timberwolves win that game, the Timberwolves with become the eighth-seeded team in the NBA Western Conference NBA Playoffs

Seventh seed

To enter the NBA Play-In Tournament as the seventh-seeded team in the NBA Western Conference, several things must happen for the Minnesota Timberwolves. First and foremost, the Timberwolves must take care of business at Target Center by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans. Once that happens, then all attention turns to the Utah Jazz and hopes for their upset victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

If the Timberwolves win and the Lakers lose their final games, then it will be the Minnesota Timberwolves who will remain home throughout the NBA Play-In Tournament. That means that the Timberwolves will host the Lakers on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. If the Timberwolves win, they enter the NBA Playoffs as the seventh seed. Should the Timberwolves fall to the Lakers, the team will host the winner of the Thunder vs Pelicans contest on Friday, April 14, 2023.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were able to win their NBA Play-In Tournament contest one year ago, a huge win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Timberwolves will have a chance to repeat that win-and-in outcome but must earn that opportunity by defeating a very competitive New Orleans Pelicans team.

It’s going to be a thrilling game today. Enjoy your Easter Sunday everyone.