NBA Playoff Picture: Oklahoma City Thunder Tiebreakers
The 2022-23 NBA regular season is set to end on April 9 and the Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves fighting to earn a spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
They may not be able to earn an actual playoff spot, but this young team can still clinch a Play-In spot and fight for the 8-seed in the West.
Here is the tiebreaker criteria the NBA will use to determine playoff seeding in the event two or more teams tie:
NBA Tiebreaker Rules for 2 Teams Tied:
(1) Better winning percentage in games against each other
(2) Division leader wins a tie over a team not leading a division
(3) Division won-lost percentage (only if teams are in same division)
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for the playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)
(6) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for the playoffs in other conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)
(7) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”)
NBA Tiebreaker Rules for 3 or More Teams Tied:
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
(2) Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams
(3) Division won-lost percentage (only if all teams are in same division)
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for the playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)
(6) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”)
Oklahoma City could potential pull even in the standings with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 9-seed in the conference and they could also fall out of the Top-10 with the Dallas Mavericks still looming.
Some tiebreakers will be determined over the final week of the regular season, but based on the league’s criteria outlined above, here is a team-by-team breakdown of what tiebreakers the Oklahoma City Thunder do and do not own over teams close to them in the Western Conference standings:
Team-By-Team Tiebreakers for Oklahoma City Thunder (40-42):
(UPDATED 4/9/23 at 6:00 p.m. ET.)
Minnesota Timberwolves - Currently 8-seed in Western Conference, Record: 42-40
[Tiebreaker Favors Minnesota Timberwolves] - Tiebreaker is OFFICIAL
- Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Oklahoma City Thunder 3-1 in 2022-23 regular season meetings
Should OKC finish tied with the Timberwolves at 40-42 on the season, the Timberwolves will host the Thunder in a one-game 9-seed vs. 10-seed Play-In Game.
Dallas Mavericks - Currently 11-seed in Western Conference, Record: 38-44 [Eliminated from postseason contention]
[Tiebreaker Favors Oklahoma City Thunder] - Tiebreaker is OFFICIAL
- Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Dallas Mavericks 2-1 in 2022-23 regular season meetings
The Thunder will clinch a spot in the Play-In Tournament with one loss by the Dallas Mavericks.Dallas must win their remaining two games and have the Thunder lose their final game of the season in order to make the Play-In Tournament as the 10-seed.
Current Western Conference Standings
Updated at 6:00 p.m. ET. on 4/9/23
- Denver Nuggets (53-29) [Clinched Playoff Spot] - 0.0 GB
- Memphis Grizzlies (51-31) [Clinched Playoff Spot] - 2.0 GB
- Sacramento Kings (48-34) [Clinched Playoff Spot]- 5.0 GB
- Phoenix Suns (45-37) [Clinched Playoff Spot] - 8.0 GB
- Los Angeles Clippers (44-38) - 9.0 GB
- Golden State Warriors (44-38) - 9.0 GB
- Los Angeles Lakers (43-39) - 10.0 GB
- Minnesota Timberwolves (42-40) - 11.0 GB
- New Orleans Pelicans (42-40) - 11.0 GB
- Oklahoma City Thunder (40-42) - 13.0 GB
- Dallas Mavericks (38-44) - 15.0 GB [ELIMINATED]
- Utah Jazz (37-45) - 16.0 GB [ELIMINATED]
- Portland Trail Blazers (33-49) [ELIMINATED] - 20.0 GB
- Houston Rockets (22-60) [ELIMINATED] - 31.0 GB
- San Antonio Spurs (22-60) [ELIMINATED] - 31.0 GB
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