Lynx Playoff Chances


PLAYOFFS – RIGHT NOW :

  • Even with last night's loss to the Seattle Storm, the Lynx are still in a three-way battle for the final two Western Conference spots. They are currently tied with San Antonio and Los Angeles each team standing at 12-20 for the regular season.
  • The Lynx next matchup is with fellow playoff contenders the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night. Minnesota has yet to win a game against the Sparks in the regular season. Their last contest was on August 12 and the Sparks rallied to defeat the Lynx 78-77 in a dramatic buzzer beater at the Target Center.

THE LYNX WOULD MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF :

  • They finish with a better regular season record than Los Angeles and/or San Antonio. First-round opponent would be either Phoenix or Seattle.
  • If San Antonio and Minnesota were to finish the regular season with the same record (with LA finishing one or more game(s) behind or in front of MN/SA). Lynx would advance by virtue of their 3-2 record vs. San Antonio.

POSSIBLE FIRST ROUND SCENARIOS :

  • Lynx (4) vs. Seattle (1)
  • Lynx (3) vs. Phoenix (2)
  • The first potential playoff game for the Lynx would be on Wednesday, Aug. 25 or Thursday, Aug. 26 in either Seattle or Phoenix.
  • Minnesota would then host the second game of the best-of-three series on either Friday, Aug. 27 or Saturday, Aug. 28
  • A game three, in necessary, would be on either Sunday, Aug. 29 or Monday, Aug. 30

REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULES :

Lynx
o Friday, Aug. 20 @ Los Angeles – 9:30 pm CT
o Sunday, Aug. 22 @ Indiana – 6:00 pm CT

Los Angeles
o Friday, Aug. 20 vs. Minnesota – 9:30 pm CT
o Saturday, Aug. 21 @ Seattle – 10:00 pm CT

San Antonio
o Friday, Aug. 20 vs. Indiana – 7:00 pm CT
o Sunday, Aug. 22 vs. Phoenix – 2:00 pm CT

TIE-BREAKERS :

1. Head-to-head winning percentage
  • MN – 3-2 vs. San Antonio; 0-3 vs. Los Angeles. Games Remaining: 8/20 @ LA
  • LA – 1-3 vs. San Antonio; 3-0 vs. Minnesota. Game Remaining: None
  • SA – 2-3 vs. Minnesota; 3-1 vs. San Antonio. Games Remaining: None
2. Conference winning percentage
  • MN – 8-12; Games Remaining: 8/22 @ Los Angeles
  • LA – 9-10; Games Remaining: 8/20 vs. Minnesota, 8/21 @ Seattle
  • SA – 10-11; Games Remaining: 8/22 vs. Phoenix
3. Winning percentage vs. teams at or above .500 at end-of-season
4. Net Points, games involving tied teams
5. Coin toss (tied teams listed alphabetically above).

NOTABLE
  • In a three-way tie, the order would be determined by a head-to-head total of the involved teams. MN’s record vs. SA and LA; LA’s record vs. MN and SA; SA’s record vs. LA and MN. If the season were to end today, the Lynx would miss the playoffs by virtue of LA’s 4-3 record vs. SA/MN and SA’s 6-4 record vs. LA/MN. The Lynx are a combined 3-5 vs. LA (0-3) and SA (3-2) this year.
  • All playoff games will be broadcast on either ESPN or NBA TV.
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