Update: The Blazers won the play-in series by defeating Memphis on Saturday. Portland will now face the Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday. Read about Portland’s win over Memphis here.
NBA playoff picture: Play-in series schedule for Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies
Here’s the schedule for Portland vs. Memphis in the play-in series and a look at the full NBA playoff picture.
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
The NBA playoff picture is locked in
Here’s a look at the playoff picture after Portland’s win over Memphis.
Eastern Conference playoff picture
(1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (8) Orlando Magic
(2) Toronto Raptors vs. (7) Brooklyn Nets
(3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers
(4) Miami Heat vs. (5) Indiana Pacers
Western Conference playoff picture
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
(2) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Utah Jazz
(4) Houston Rockets vs. (5) Oklahoma City Thunder
Here’s the original post:
The Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies will meet in the NBA’s first ever play-in series for the final seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
The first game of the Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies play-in series is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET on ABC. If the Blazers win, they will advance to the playoffs to face the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. If the Grizzlies win on Saturday, they also have to beat the Blazers on Sunday to secure the final playoff spot in the West.
The Trail Blazers and Grizzlies earned the right to continue their seasons during a frantic day at the bubble that began with four teams still vying for the play-in series. The Grizzlies picked up an early win against the Bucks, who were playing without the suspended Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Phoenix Suns then took care of business against the Dallas Mavericks, achieving a perfect 8-0 record in the bubble and putting pressure on the Blazers to win the nightcap against the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets and Blazers played one of the most thrilling games of the NBA restart. Portland escaped with a 134-133 win as Brooklyn’s Caris LeVert missed a game-winning step-back jumper at the buzzer. Damian Lillard continued his tear at the bubble by dropping 42 points in the win.
The San Antonio Spurs were also eliminated from the playoffs on Thursday after wins by Memphis and Phoenix. That snaps the Spurs’ streak of 22 consecutive seasons in the playoffs.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Blazers vs. Grizzlies play-in series.
Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies play-in series schedule
Game 1: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET on ABC (update: Portland wins 126-122 to advance to play the Lakers in the first round.)
As the No. 8 seed at the moment, the Trail Blazers only need to win one game to reach the playoffs. The ninth-seeded Grizzlies will need to win both games against Portland to reach the playoffs.
The winner faces the top-seeded Lakers in the first round.
How will the play-in series work?
The play-in series is limited to only two teams: the No. 8 and No. 9 seed in each conference’s playoff picture, provided those teams are separated by four or fewer games in the standings.
If the team that enters the play-in series as the No. 8 seed wins the first game of the play-in series, they are officially in the playoffs. If the No. 9 seed wins the first game of the play-in series, there’s a winner-take-all second game.
Essentially: the play-in series has two games maximum. The No. 8 seed has to win one game to lock down the final playoff spot. The No. 9 seed would have to beat them in two straight games to make the playoffs.
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