Predicting 2025 Western Conference NBA Play-In Tournament

Hurry up and wait is the motto for the Oklahoma City Thunder this week. While other playoff teams are already hard at work digging into its First-Round matchup and looking to find any advantages possible, the Thunder have to wait until Friday night ot know for sure who they will face off with beginning on Sunday.

The list is narrowed down to four teams: The Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks.

After ranking the four play-in teams, let's dive into the Thunder on SI predictions for the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Game 1: No. 7 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies

The Golden State Warriors have been one of the best teams in basketball since trading for Jimmy Butler. In the past ten games, the Warriors have the fourth best Net Rating, the fourth best defensive rating and the eighth best offensive rating.

Home-court advantage plays a part as well, the Grizzlies have to travel cross country to meet up with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

The Warriors have never won an NBA Play-In game, but streaks are meant to be broken. A win secures Golden State four days off and a trip to Houston in the first round rather than the best team in the league.

With Golden State motivated and the crowd behind them, Curry will put on a show to get the Warriors a win.

Winner: Warriors by Seven.

Game 2: No. 9 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 10 Dallas Mavericks

This is a battle of who wants it slightly more than the other. At times this season, each team has been willing to pack it in, but now are two wins away from making the NBA playoffs, even if it's for a date with the buzzsaw that is the Thunder.

Anthony Davis has a chance to make a statement and have his first iconic game as a Dallas Maverick and the Kings will be lacking Malik Monk which is a huge blow to their rotation.

This should be a competitive matchup and the lack of guard play from Dallas hurts its ability to full maximize its supporting cast such as Klay Thompson and PJ Washington.

The Old Barn in Sacramento is a tough place to play, with cow bells ringing the eyes of even TV observers and one of the most passionate crowds the league has to offer. However, someone has to lose in a coin-flip game.

Winner: Mavericks by five.

Game 3: No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 10 Dallas Mavericks

Whoever falls in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game, in this prediction the Memphis Grizzlies, have to take care of business during Friday's game. With all due respect to the Mavericks or Kings, neither team is good enough to shake up the standings.

Memphis, returning home, should be able to beat a dismantled Mavericks squad whose season ended on Feb. 1 with the trade of Luka Doncic. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. playing a win-or-go-home game in the FedEx Forum has to be too much for Davis to overcome.

Winner: Grizzlies by 12.