Western Conference First-Round Matchups, Play-In Tournament Seeding Now Set

The top 10 seeds in the Western Conference will compete for a chance to become this year’s NBA champion.

The Western Conference 2023 NBA playoff matchups are official after Sunday’s games. Additionally, the four teams competing in the play-in tournament this upcoming week have been determined.

The two teams that win the two play-in tournament matchups this week will then face the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the playoffs.

Here’s which teams will be squaring off in the play-in tournament and the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs from the Western Conference. 

Western Conference

No. 1 Nuggets vs. No. 8 seed (Lakers/Timberwolves/Pelicans/Thunder)
No. 2 Grizzlies vs. No. 7 seed (Lakers/Timberwolves)
No. 3 Kings vs. No. 6 Warriors
No. 4 Suns vs. No. 5 Clippers

Play-In Tournament

The play-in tournament will kick off with the No. 7 Lakers facing the No. 8 Timberwolves on Tuesday, followed by the No. 9 Pelicans facing the No. 10 Thunder on Wednesday. The winners of the first matchup will earn the No. 7 seed and play the Grizzlies in the first round, while the loser will play the winner of Pelicans-Thunder, with the victor in that matchup earning the No. 8 seed and playing the Nuggets in the first round. 

Here’s a look at the Eastern Conference playoff picture.