A Warriors win on Sunday was a Lakers loss.
With five spots in the Western Conference playoffs and play-in tournament at stake, Golden State secured the simplest of scenarios, clinching the No. 6 seed and final guaranteed playoff spot with a 157-101 romp over a Portland Trail Blazers team sitting its starters.
The win ensured that the Lakers would be relegated to the play-in despite a season-ending 128-117 win over the Utah Jazz. LeBron James led the way with 36 points, six assists and six rebounds as Los Angeles finished the season a league-best 18-9 record since the trade deadline to stay alive for the postseason. They'll face the Timberwolves in the play-in, with the winner advancing to the playoffs as a No. 7 seed.
The game results were from among four that tipped off at 3:30 ET on Sunday with playoff implications for the Warriors, Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans. The Clippers beat the Suns to secure the No. 5 seed and a first-round matchup against the Phoenix team they just beat. Had Phoenix won, they would have faced the Warriors in the first round. The Warriors will instead face the No. 3 seed Sacramento Kings.
The Timberwolves, meanwhile, beat the Pelicans to secure the No. 8 seed and a win-and-in scenario against the Lakers. The loss means the Pelicans are the No. 9 seed and will have to win two straight games to earn the West's final playoff spot. They'll face the No. 10 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. The loser will be eliminated, while the winner will advance to face the loser of the Lakers-Timberwolves game for the No. 8 seed.
Meanwhile, the the Eastern Conference playoff bracket was set ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale. Here's a full look at the playoffs with the regular season in the books.
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