Does OKC Thunder own the tiebreaker over Nuggets, Timberwolves? Explaining NBA rules
The race for the top spot in the Western Conference standings looks like it'll be a photo finish.
With the regular season set to end on Sunday, the OKC Thunder (54-25) is in third place. It's one game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves (55-24) and the Denver Nuggets (55-24) for first place.
Here's a look at the tiebreaker rules for playoff seeding, per NBA.com.
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What are tiebreaker rules for NBA playoffs seeding?
Tiebreaker rules for two-way ties
(1) Better winning percentage in games against each other.
(2) Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division).
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in same division).
(4) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(6) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(7) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”).
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Tiebreaker rules for multi-way ties
(1) Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division).
(2) Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams.
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in same division).
(4) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(6) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”).
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Does OKC have the tiebreaker against Minnesota?
Minnesota holds the tiebreaker over OKC.
The two teams split their regular-season series, 2-2. And since both are in the Northwest Division, the next tiebreaker is their record against division opponents.
Minnesota is 12-3 in that category, and it has one remaining division game against Denver on Wednesday. OKC is 12-4 with no remaining division games.
But even if Minnesota loses to Denver, the next determining factor would be conference record. The Timberwolves are 37-13 in that category with two remaining games against Western Conference teams, while the Thunder is 34-16 with two remaining games.
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Does OKC have the tiebreaker against Denver?
OKC has secured the tiebreaker over Denver.
The Thunder won its regular-season series against the Nuggets, 3-1.
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Does OKC have the three-way tiebreaker against Minnesota and Denver?
That'll be decided when Minnesota faces Denver on Wednesday.
Since all three teams are in the same division, the first tiebreaker that applies in this case would head-to-head winning percentage.
If Minnesota loses to Denver, OKC will secure the tiebreaker. The Thunder would be first with a 5-3 record against the other two teams while the Timberwolves (4-4) and Nuggets (3-5) would be second and third, respectively.
If Minnesota beats Denver, it'll secure the tiebreaker because of its record against division opponents. The Timberwolves would be in first (13-3) while the Thunder (12-4) and Nuggets (9-7) would be in second and third, respectively.
—Justin Martinez, Staff writer
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Explaining NBA tiebreaker rules for OKC Thunder in playoff seeding
