Image Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Clippers Playoff Scenario – What Needs To Happen for James Harden and Co. To Avoid the Play-In Tournament?

The Clippers have played a total of 81 games, having recorded 49 wins and 32 losses.

Image Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The 2024-25 regular season has almost reached its end, and while all the Eastern Conference teams have secured their seeds for the playoffs, scenes are still wild in the West. In the Western Conference, teams including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers have booked the top three spots, in that order.

Another three teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies, the Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks have booked the play-in berth. However, remaining teams including the Nuggets, the Clippers, the Warriors and the Wolves are engaged in a tussle to avoid the play-in berth and directly enter the playoffs.

The Clippers have played a total of 81 games, having recorded 49 wins and 32 losses. They are tied with the Nuggets for the fourth spot and are on a staggering seven-game winning streak. However, as luck would have it, the Clippers are on the brink of a playoff berth. Their fate in the postseason would be decided until they play their regular-season finale against the Golden State Warriors.

🏆 PLAYOFF PICTURE 🏆

▪️ West 4-7 still up for grabs, separated by 1 game
▪️ East 1-10 set for postseason

The final day of the regular season is SUNDAY and the #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google begin April 19! pic.twitter.com/JD1PyoZkKL
— NBA (@NBA) April 12, 2025

How Can Los Angeles Clippers Qualify For the Playoffs?

The Los Angeles Clippers are on an outstanding run, and have won the last seven consecutive games. In their latest fixture, LA narrowly rolled past the Sacramento Kings and registered a 101-100 win. The game saw Kawhi Leonard scoring 28 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Harden came up with 23/11/10 in 43 minutes of action.

Also Read: Golden State Warriors Playoff Scenarios – What Needs To Happen for Stephen Curry and Co. To Avoid the Play-In Tournament?

Despite an energetic run, the Clippers are on the verge of losing a playoff berth. Their playoff qualification scenario is as straight as it could get. If they are able to beat the Warriors, they would enter the playoffs, and if they lose, they will be in a dangerous spot of landing into the play-in.

Both sides have played against each other thrice this season, with the Clippers recording wins in all the three games. Needless to say, they will head into their finale confidently. On the other hand, the Curry-Butler duo would aim to break the streak and turn around their past results since there is a lot on stake.

The Game Against the Warriors Is A Must-Win Game!

The Los Angeles Clippers need to win their season finale against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. It is the only way they can avoid a play-in berth and pave their way directly into the playoffs without the fear of elimination.

Currently, they tie with the Nuggets with a tally of 49-32, but have a weaker conference record at 28-23 as compared to 31-20. If the Clippers lose to the Warriors, Denver beats Houston, and the Wolves defeat the Jazz, L.A. would slump to the seventh spot and would be up against the Grizzlies in a play-in game on Tuesday.

In short, the Clippers’ loss and the win by the Wolves would leave them and the Warriors at an identical record of 49-33. In that case, the Wolves would become the fifth seed, the Warriors would occupy the sixth seed and the Clippers would be on the seventh.

Also Read: NBA Western Conference Playoff Scenarios – Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers Among Teams Trying To Avoid Play-In in the Race to Postseason

Los Angeles Clippers

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.