Check out how Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings can secure the Western Conference No. 8 seed heading into the final matchup

Even on the last day of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, and after both teams lost Friday night, the Golden State Warriors (45-36) and Sacramento Kings (45-36) are still vying for postseason place. 

If the season ended tonight, the No. 9 and 10 seeds would face off in a must-win game on Tuesday, April 16 at Golden 1 Centre. The Kings have the tiebreaker over the Warriors and would receive the higher seed owing to their superior Pacific Division record.

Fortunately for both clubs, they are not locked into either of the bottom two positions and may still leapfrog the No. 8 seed Los Angeles Lakers, avoiding a one-and-done game. Here's how.:

On Sunday if the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, then the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings will be locked into a duel for the ninth and tenth seeds, with Sacramento Kings still owning the tiebreaker and higher ranking even if both teams win their final games.

If the Los Angeles Lakers lose to the Pelicans, the Kings can secure the No. 8 spot by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers (21-60) on Sunday at Golden 1 Centre. Finally, if the Lakers and Kings both lose, the Warriors will earn the No. 8 seed after defeating the Utah Jazz (31-50) on Sunday at Chase Centre.

Play-in starts from Tuesday 

Sacramento Kings are hoping for a victory and a Lakers defeat. The Warriors are hoping for a Golden State victory and defeats from the Kings and Lakers. 

According to a press release issued by the NBA on Saturday, the West's 7-8 and 9-10 matchups will take place on Tuesday only if the Philadelphia 76ers are the Eastern Conference's No. 7 seed, most likely due to the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers playing a home game at Wells Fargo Centre on Tuesday.

If the Philadelphia 76ers are not the East's seventh seed, the West's 7-8 game will be played on Tuesday, followed by the 9-10 game on Wednesday, April 17.