Battle For Final Playoff Spot In The West: New Orleans Pelicans Hold Tiebreaker But Oklahoma City Thunder Have Easier Schedule

All tied up at with a win-loss record of 42-36 in the stretch run of the 2014-2015 NBA regular season, the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder are battling for the eighth and final spot in the 2015 NBA Playoffs. The Pelicans are led by budding superstar Anthony Davis while the Thunder are led by Most Valuable Player candidate Russell Westbrook.

The task for the Pelicans are simple; win out on their last four outings and they make the postseason because they hold the tiebreaker over the Thunder, which are just 1-3 against the Pelicans this season. However, they have a tougher set than OKC with two of their last four games against playoff-bound teams and another team was contending for a slot just over a week ago. Meanwhile, the Thunder will face two lottery-bound squads in the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves, one against a squad trying to get into the postseason and another playing for positioning out West.

The Pelicans, which have won 5 of their last 7 games, will play the Rockets and Spurs squads which are still battling for a No. 2 seed in the West. Depending on the situation in the last few days of the regular season or if San Antonio still has a shot at a higher seed, there is a possibility that the Spurs coached by Greg Popovich will be resting their stars or key players against the Pelicans on the last play date of the regular season.

For the Thunder, which are currently mired in a four-game skid, they’ll have to slug it out against the Pacers, which are also battling for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and the Trail Blazers, which wants at least a home court advantage in the first round of the postseason.

The Timberwolves, the common opponent for both squads in their final four games, can play major spoilers despite the lost season; a win against either New Orleans or Oklahoma City will be crucial for the campaign of both teams.

Here’s a look at the schedule for the respective squads in their last four outings of the regular season:

Oklahoma City Thunder (2 home games, 2 road games): vs. Sacramento Kings, at Indiana Pacers, vs. Portland Trail Blazers, at Minnesota Timberwolves

New Orleans Pelicans (2 home games, 2 road games): vs. Phoenix Suns, at Houston Rockets, at Minnesota Timberwolves, vs. San Antonio Spurs

To contact author of this article, email j.quizon@IBTimes.com.au