The NBA regular season has come to a close, and the focus was on the Western Conference as the final two spots for the playoffs were up for grabs. [expander_maker id=”1″ ] The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors secured their direct qualification with wins over the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively, while the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans will have to go through the play-in tournament.

In a blowout win, the Warriors had no trouble dispatching the Trail Blazers, who decided to bench several key players. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson led the charge with a combined 46 points, while four players on the team scored over 20 points. The result was a resounding 101-157 victory for the Warriors, securing their playoff spot as the fifth seed. They will face the Suns in the first round of the playoffs, with Phoenix having the home-court advantage.

The Clippers faced a tougher challenge as they had to win on the road against the Suns to secure their playoff berth. The Suns were already guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and came out strong in the first half, leading for most of the period. However, the Clippers rose to the occasion and surged back in the second half, led by Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell. Despite a late push from the Suns, the Clippers held on for a 114-119 win, securing the sixth seed and setting up a matchup against the Sacramento Kings in the playoffs.

The Lakers ended their regular season with a home win against the Utah Jazz, who had already secured their playoff spot. The Lakers needed the win to avoid the play-in tournament, but despite the heroics of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, their fate was sealed due to other results. They will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the play-in tournament, with the winner advancing to face the Memphis Grizzlies.

In a key game for the eighth seed in the West, the Timberwolves faced the New Orleans Pelicans, who needed a win to secure their playoff spot. Despite a strong start from the Pelicans, the Timberwolves rallied in the second half, led by Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, to clinch the game and secure the final playoff spot. The Pelicans will have one more chance to make it to the playoffs through the play-in tournament, facing the Oklahoma City Thunder. The winner will then face the Nuggets in the playoffs.

The NBA playoffs promise to be exciting, as the top teams battle it out for a chance to clinch the championship title. The Eastern Conference has already set up its playoff seeds, while the Western Conference will have to go through the play-in tournament to determine the final playoff teams. With the Lakers and Pelicans in the mix, the play-in tournament will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. The Clippers and Warriors will face tough matchups in the first round of the playoffs, but they have the talent and experience to make a deep run. Fans can only hope for an exciting and memorable playoff season.[/expander_maker]