Oklahoma City Thunder was not the only team to profit off Russell Westbrook's game-winning three-pointer to win the game against the Denver Nuggets Sunday night. The Thunder's 106-105 win means that the Portland Trail Blazers have locked up the No.8 seed in the Western Conference, despite not playing a game Sunday Night. The Blazers currently have a 40-40 record with two games left in the season, and they hold the head-to-head tiebreak over the Denver Nuggets who have a record of 38-42 and are currently two games behind the Blazers.
The Blazers did not even play today
It was record breaking night for Russell Westbrook as he posted his 42nd triple-double of the season which broke the previous record of Oscar Robertson's season total of 41. Westbrook converted a three-point attempt from 36 feet to beat the buzzer, as Thunder claimed victory over the Nuggets. Westbrook finished with 50 points, 16 rebounds, and ten assists breaking another NBA record of most 50-point triple-doubles in a season with three.
Westbrook's game-winner on Sunday night in Denver eliminated the Nuggets from this season's playoffs and all but confirmed that the Warriors first round opponents will be the Trail Blazers.The Nuggets loss officially sets the matchup of the Blazers against the top seed Warriors in the first round.
This series will begin next weekend on either Saturday or Sunday at Oracle Arena.
This playoff matchup will be a repeat of last year's Western Conference semifinals matchup between these two sides, where the Warriors took down the Blazers in 5 games. The Blazers have not managed to win a regular season matchup against The Warriors this season losing all four matchups.
With a current record of 40-40, the Trail Blazers have confirmed their place in the 8th seed in the Western Conference. This postseason trip will be the fourth straight postseason visit for the Trail Blazers, who have also secured their 33rd NBA playoff berth in league history after joining the association in 1970.
The No.8 seed still has a chance as history shows
The playoffs will begin around the league on Saturday, April 15 and playoff teams, opponents, game dates and times decided following the ending of the leagues' regular season on Wednesday, April 12. Portland is currently on a four straight season playoff streak and has secured berths in the previous seven of nine playoffs. Four of those last appearances ended in the Trail Blazers bundled out of the first round, and the Blazers in all likelihood will make it their fifth first round exit against the Warriors.
The top-seeded Golden State Warriors will be the Trail Blazers' matchup in the first round are an astoundingly poor matchup for this below average Blazers' defense.
The Blazers have already had the worst record than their previous 44-38 record from last season. The Blazers are more than likely going to fall short in their attempt to equal their second round appearance from last season's playoffs. That said past matchups warn NBA fans to not count out No.8 seeds just yet, Golden State after their 2007 upset of the No.1 seed Dallas Mavericks, know better than any other team in the league that anything is possible.
