Which NBA team is under most pressure to avoid the Play-In Tournament?

As the 2024-25 NBA regular season winds down with under 10 games remaining, the battle for playoff positioning and seeding in the Western Conference looks to be heating up.

The Los Angeles Lakers (45-29), Memphis Grizzlies (44-30), Golden State Warriors (43-31), Minnesota Timberwolves (43-32), and Los Angeles Clippers (42-32) are all within three games of each other, occupying seeds four through eight.

But with only six automatic playoff spots available, two of these teams will be forced into the Play-In Tournament, making the final stretch of the regular season crucial for all of these ballclubs.

On the latest episode of “NBA Daily,” Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, and Zena Keita broke down which of these teams is under the most pressure to secure a top-six seed and avoid the Play-In.

Dave, Es and Zena also discussed the Grizzlies parting ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins with just nine games left in the regular season, as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite their recent struggles, clocking their 60th win of the season in their 127-122 victory over the Clippers.

Dave, Es and Zena also assessed the heated altercation that led to five players and two coaches being ejected in the Timberwolves’ 123-104 win over the Detroit Pistons, and whether the Phoenix Suns’ Play-In hopes are officially over after their 148-109 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on their home floor.

Watch the full episode of “NBA Daily” below or on the YouTube channel, or via the “NBA Daily” podcast feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

(Top photo: Ezra Shaw /Getty Images)

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