Here’s what the Warriors need to avoid the Play-In Tournament

With just three days left in the NBA regular season, the Warriors have their backs against the wall. Here’s what they need to go straight through to the postseason.

The Lakers’ loss to the Clippers Wednesday night locked the Clippers into the No. 5 seed and set up a three-day battle for the No. 6 seed. The Warriors currently hold that spot and the right to skip the Play-In Tournament, jump right to the postseason and an advantageous matchup with the Kings that Draymond Green hinted they’ve already been targeting.

However, the Warriors are just a game ahead of the Lakers and the Pelicans in the standings but both teams hold the edge in tie-breakers. All three teams have massive challenges waiting on Friday night — the Lakers play the Suns at home, the Warriors are on the road against the Kings and the Pelicans host the Knicks.

Here is what the Warriors need to avoid the Play-In Tournament:

As laid out by The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson, the Warriors can lock up the No. 6 seed on Friday with a win over the Kings, a Lakers’ loss to the Suns and a Knicks win over the Pelicans.

The Warriors control their one destiny and winning out — against the Kings Friday and the Trail Blazers on Sunday — puts them into the No. 6 seed regardless of what the Lakers or Pelicans do. If they drop either game they’ll need both the Lakers and Pelicans to lose at least one of their two remaining games. The nightmare scenario for the Warriors is losing both games.

Steve Kerr confirmed that the Warriors will not have Andrew Wiggins in the lineup for either of their two remaining regular season games. He is ramping up and hoping to return for the playoffs after a two-month absence caring for his ailing father. But the Warriors may have to get there without him.

Check out The Step Back for more news, analysis, opinion and unique basketball coverage. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our daily email newsletter, The Whiteboard.