In-Season Tournament Day 3 | WEST
In-Season Tournament Day 3 has arrived! Let’s dive into what went down in the West groups
West Group A
The Lakers maintained their perfect start in the in-season tournament (2–0) by overpowering the Grizzlies with a score of 134–107. D’Angelo Russell (24 pts, 5 assists) and Rui Hachimura (23 pts) led the scoring, with LeBron nearly securing a double-double (16 pts, 9 ast) and Anthony Davis delivering an actual double-double (19 pts, 11 rebs).
Meanwhile, the Jazz secured a 2–0 start in the tournament by defeating the Blazers 115–99. Jordan Clarkson contributed 30 points, supported by Lauri Markkanen with 21. As expected, Jerami Grant led the Blazers in scoring with 26 points.
Standings:
In this singular advancement format, both the Lakers and the Jazz are in control of their destiny. The Lakers have a relatively smoother path, facing the Blazers and the Jazz, whereas the Jazz have yet to encounter the Phoenix Suns.
Portland is still in contention, but securing advancement from the top spot appears to be an uphill battle. They must conquer both the Lakers and Phoenix while hoping for the Jazz to lose both their games. Although there’s a slim mathematical chance in a three-team 3–1 tie, the Blazers’ poor point differential might prove challenging to overcome.
Phoenix must aim for an undefeated run, which seems plausible considering their upcoming opponents. However, the Lakers hold the tiebreaker advantage. So, even if the Suns manage a perfect record, securing the top spot relies on either the Lakers losing both games or amassing the best point differential among the three teams tied at 3–1.
The Memphis Grizzlies are out of contention for advancement, holding no mathematical probability to progress.
West Group B
The Pelicans pulled off an upset, dominating the Mavericks with a convincing 131–110 victory. Ingram showcased an all-around performance with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Jordan Hawkins contributed 25 points. Luka Doncic had one of his worst games this season, managing only 16 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and an alarming 8 turnovers, shooting at a dismal 31% from the field.
Meanwhile, Denver narrowly escaped with a 111–108 win against the LA Clippers, propelling Denver to a 2–0 record while the Clippers sit at 0–2 in the in-season tournament. Jokic delivered his classic performance with 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 assists, supported by Aaron Gordon’s 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Paul George led the Clippers with 35 points.
Standings
With a win tonight, the Nuggets now control their own fate. A victory against the Pelicans would almost certainly secure the top spot for them, barring an unforeseen winning streak from Houston.
Houston faces a tougher task in controlling their destiny. They essentially need to win all remaining games to advance over the Nuggets. However, if Denver stumbles and loses both of their last games, Houston winning two out of the last three would be enough for them to advance, given their tiebreaker against the Pelicans.
The Pelicans also require two wins (against Denver and the Clippers) and hope that the Rockets only win one of their remaining three games to have a chance at advancing.
While a three-team tie between these teams for the top spot on a 3–1 record is mathematically possible, it seems improbable at this stage. Let’s reassess after the next round of games.
Regarding the Clippers and Mavericks, while it’s highly unlikely for them to advance, mathematically, there remains a chance:
If the following events unfold:
- Clippers defeat Houston
- Clippers defeat Pelicans
- Mavericks defeat Rockets
- Pelicans defeat Nuggets
- Rockets defeat Nuggets
In this scenario, all teams would tie at a 2–2 record, and the team with the highest point differential would advance. This provides a faint glimmer of hope for both the Mavs and Clippers.
West Group C
OKC dominated the Spurs, securing a decisive 123–87 victory, and it wasn’t even a close. Shai put up an impressive 28 points, while Josh Giddey added another 18. What’s up with the Spurs? After their two victories against the Suns, they seem to be heading towards tanking for that number one pick again.
In the second game of this group, the Timberwolves narrowly defeated the Warriors with a score of 104–101. However, the game took a wild turn when Draymond Green tried to get physical with Rudy Gobert on the court, following an attempt by Gobert to separate a scuffle between Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels. Let’s be honest, Draymond’s actions were ridiculous. He’s now facing a five-game suspension, and honestly, it’s well-deserved. The guy is a clown.
Standings
Minnesota has a firm grip on the group now, gearing up to face the Kings in what could potentially determine the top seed.
Golden State faces a tough scenario, needing two wins in their remaining games and hoping Minnesota loses both to secure the top spot. But with Minnesota holding the tiebreaker over them, it’s a tricky situation for the Warriors.
Despite their recent win, OKC’s chances to advance are slim, similar to the Spurs. For them to have a chance, specific outcomes are required:
- Spurs must defeat both the Kings and the Warriors
- Thunder needs to defeat the Timberwolves
- Warriors must defeat the Kings
- Kings must defeat Minnesota
In this hypothetical scenario, all teams would tie with a 2–2 record, and the one with the highest point differential would advance. It’s a faint hope for both OKC and the Spurs.
