Playoff Prospects: Which Western Conference Team Will Make It Out Of The Play-In?

In this series, we’ll take a look at each NBA team that’s gunning for a deep playoff run. We’ll try to predict the players that will have the biggest impact, as well as the ceiling for each squad in the 2026 postseason.

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for this year’s Western Conference play-in teams. That light, however, might turn out to be too magnificent for their own good.

Awaiting the winner of the No. 7 versus No. 8 matchup is the San Antonio Spurs, who are peaking at the right time to make a case for bona fide title contention. Any time Victor Wembanyama and the word “peak” are used in the same context, scary times lie ahead for the rest of the field.

Meanwhile, the other team to emerge from the West’s play-in will perhaps have an even taller mountain to climb. The defending champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, had their fair share of lowlights this season (including four losses to the aforementioned Spurs), but when the playoffs commence, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his two-way crew can be counted on to hit their stride.

So, which teams will end up taking on the Spurs and the Thunder? Here's my prediction for the final play-in positions of four Western Conference squads.

In the offseason, critics slammed the Suns’ roster construction, claiming that they had far too many wing players and limited potential to properly gel. With just weeks to go before the postseason, the Suns have a healthy, above .500 record. Now that Dillon Brooks has returned to the lineup (following a lengthy layoff due to a hand injury), Phoenix remains a solid threat in the play-in.

The Clippers, on the other hand, have gone from NBA laughingstock to legitimate playoff contender. The Clips were hovering near the bottom of the West standings in the first two months of the season, but thanks to some lengthy winning streaks in December and January, they gained significant momentum and pushed their winning percentage past 50%.

One driving force behind the Clippers’ resurgence is Kawhi Leonard, who is having a career renaissance of his own. The clutch gene and championship experience of this two-time Finals MVP will likely propel the Clippers into victory over the Suns and a first-round date with San Antonio.

There are two sides to the Portland Trail Blazers’ story this season. First, there’s the whirlpool of controversy and uncertainty after their head coach, Chauncey Billups, was arrested on charges of illicit poker activities. On the other hand, there’s the tenacity and resilience displayed by the team, which is led by interim head coach Tiago Splitter and first-time All-Star Deni Avdija.

Meanwhile, in the Bay Area, the Golden State Warriors’ narrative has come to resemble a Shakespearean tragedy. Steph Curry has battled injuries all season long, longtime cornerstone Draymond Green has clashed with head coach Steve Kerr and figured in trade talks, and Moses Moody suffered a highly graphic knee injury that compromised the team’s future even further.

The Blazers have gone 3-1 against the Warriors this season. With Golden State hanging by a thread at this point, there’s little reason to think that this play-in matchup would turn out any differently.

The final game of the Western Conference play-in, then, may very well be the Suns hosting the Blazers. The home court advantage, plus the composure of veterans like Brooks, Devin Booker, and Grayson Allen, can certainly help the Suns set up a seven-game series with the reigning NBA champions.