NBA Playoff Picture: Suns' Crucial Clash

Standings Recap

[{"selector":"#anim-886ac4d8-b21a-4e82-98c7-5252a3436792","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05b69f5d-7378-4500-b59e-82cfa2c29704","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36b18b85-a92a-48e3-ab9b-2be4dab8484b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe3f093a-6efb-4417-8b0b-50c1140d51b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd1a60a8-99cd-4bcd-b860-de4e806d760d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6bd85596-56b0-4c7f-b29f-690dfe98b61f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 295.42462%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f0b9242-81e8-4a7b-b7ea-cc44d1f1f621 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings, maintaining a one-game lead over the Phoenix Suns for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. Image -Getty images

Phoenix's Position

[{"selector":"#anim-7b5e55fa-3673-4b95-8fce-25e2674aae6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b232bf3a-1795-4171-94e3-c4b87e0654bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 271.89519%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f1618d7-6427-411b-8343-3ecdd5ee47b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-973029db-1fef-4ec7-90db-409f3ea884d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fef97417-9884-4125-b828-bbf86b042035","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f780ce6-612b-49ec-b762-c62ea3617dc0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb4652cb-002c-4ec2-9d09-6d6056913523 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Sacramento dropped to the No. 8 spot, two games behind Phoenix, who holds the No. 7 seed. Image -Getty images

Next Matchup Importance

[{"selector":"#anim-d4482471-5379-4401-89b9-540af42c17de [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1d87ba6-3fbc-4959-b788-e1b13257e6ac","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5dea5b96-f6e6-4e4c-bf3e-bcbb8a9aca05","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3270a151-959d-4bad-a146-9b13574a2d9c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d113a93c-9ab0-48a8-93a5-742ba19805c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71d7a76e-7255-4220-b8ea-cfbd1300c78e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30b6c839-38b8-494d-b789-0005f440a524","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.48349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Phoenix plays the Kings next, and if they win, they secure either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed. Image -Getty images

Head-to-Head Advantage

[{"selector":"#anim-e2e7cf6a-c1e9-4a7d-92ae-046510162358 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9938609b-d296-4464-97df-718ca3450dc7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-275c2bfd-8d4c-4124-85f2-87663b100912","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a3770bd-d941-48da-a255-3b4e0dec02ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6224d409-5d6c-4be8-9a8b-df232e74ede4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3d4a9aa-a278-43b9-8836-ab475dadc5a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f95f0ca1-7362-4041-8724-304a8a297ec6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 342.48349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Suns have a head-to-head tiebreaker over New Orleans. Image -Getty images

Potential Outcomes

[{"selector":"#anim-f80cca24-0462-44b6-8006-4cc94d3605fb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6c6a7c6-5639-4f0e-8902-687d4649fe4d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8158050c-c4e5-4d86-a84d-e84c545b8626","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c83b2867-a5a6-4e41-b4bd-53b7fedb3cc7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e6fafd7-5838-4c68-abd9-d2e36baf57f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7ed546b-71a8-4a96-b9bf-5191e4e6dac2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 377.77782%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If Phoenix wins any of their remaining games, they'll finish ahead of the Kings, Lakers, and Warriors Image -Getty images Learn more

Play-in Scenario

[{"selector":"#anim-1e3effe1-b098-4fd0-b76b-9976d2af2dbc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86f1d6e7-b55d-47f4-93a4-fbd83a9c18b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbf112ad-96b0-4b21-8314-6bb236297f7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a94bd7b0-70da-4bc3-ac9e-83a4a9e41f14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c979a179-72e7-4ba6-bec8-07e26359b9a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c19f988-0ab7-4d79-8535-67328cd79d4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b7d33a6-7649-494c-9347-c727e329fe43","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 313.07179%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If the Suns lose both games, they might be part of a multi-team tiebreaker scenario, affecting their seeding and play-in game matchups. Image -Getty images Learn more