The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors will officially compete in the play-in tournament next week after the Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 124-108 on Wednesday night.
The Pacific Division teams can finish no higher than the seventh seed in the Western Conference – occupied by the Suns as of Wednesday night. The Lakers sit two games behind Phoenix, ranking ninth with a 45-35 record. Golden State ranks 10th in the conference with a 44-35 record. Both teams could still potentially reach the higher seventh or eighth seeds and host the play-in contests.
The Warriors have three games remaining in the regular season against the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Utah Jazz. L.A. takes on the Memphis Grizzlies and Pelicans for its final two contests.