The 2023-24 NBA regular season came to an end with a dramatic finale on Sunday that saw the Golden State Warriors finish 10th in the Western Conference. It wasn’t the position they wanted, but their title aspirations are still alive.
Stephen Curry and company can still make the playoffs, but they’ll have to go through the Play-In first. If it weren’t for this tournament introduced in the 2020-21 season, the Dubs’ would already be eliminated by now.
Steve Kerr’s side has one more shot regardless, which is why the stakes will be so high in its upcoming match against the Sacramento Kings. On Tuesday, the Warriors will know whether their playoff dream is over or not.
What happens if the Lakers win
If the Warriors (10) beat the Kings (9), they will have one more chance to fight for a playoff spot. That’s because the Play-In Tournament states the winner of the 9-10 game earns the right to compete for the 8th seed.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors controls the ball against the Chicago Bulls on January 12, 2024 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Therefore, a Golden State victory on Tuesday will see Curry and company play the Los Angeles Lakers (8) or the New Orleans Pelicans (7) on Friday with the last ticket to the playoffs up for grabs.
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What happens if the Warriors lose
If the Warriors lose in Sacramento on Tuesday, their playoff chances will be over. While the loser of the 7-8 (Kings vs Lakers) matchup has one more shot to make the playoffs, the loser of the 9-10 game goes home.
