Blazers and Clippers Face Off in High-Stakes Play-In Matchup

Winner will earn 8th seed in Western Conference playoffs

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:12pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between two teams, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the intense competition and high stakes of the matchup.The Blazers and Clippers battle for the final playoff spot in the West, with the winner avoiding a daunting first-round matchup.Los Angeles Today

The Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers will face off in a crucial play-in game on Friday night, with the winner earning the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The teams are separated by just one game in the standings, and the winner will avoid a daunting matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.

Why it matters

This game will determine which team advances to the playoffs and which team's season ends. The 8th seed is highly coveted as it avoids a first-round matchup with the powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams have been playing well down the stretch, setting up an exciting winner-take-all showdown.

The details

The Blazers (40-40) and Clippers (41-39) are battling for the final playoff spot in the West. If the Clippers win, they will clinch 8th place and the Blazers will be eliminated. If the Blazers win, the teams will be tied and Portland will own the tiebreaker, needing only to beat the Sacramento Kings on Sunday to secure the 8th seed.

  • The game will tip off at 7:00 PM Pacific on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • The Blazers and Clippers will play their final regular season games on Sunday, April 13, 2026.

The players

Portland Trail Blazers

An NBA franchise based in Portland, Oregon that has made the playoffs in 6 of the last 10 seasons.

Los Angeles Clippers

An NBA franchise based in Los Angeles, California that has made the playoffs in 8 of the last 10 seasons.

Oklahoma City Thunder

An NBA franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that has been one of the Western Conference's elite teams in recent years.

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What they’re saying

“This is the biggest game of the season for both teams. The winner gets a chance at the playoffs, the loser goes home.”

— Dave Deckard, Blazers Writer

What’s next

The winner of Friday's game will advance to the Western Conference playoffs, while the loser's season will end. The 8th seed will then play the 7th seed in a single-elimination game, with the winner advancing to face the 2-seed in the first round.

The takeaway

This high-stakes play-in game between the Blazers and Clippers will have major implications for both teams' playoff hopes. The winner will avoid a daunting first-round matchup with the Thunder, while the loser's season will come to an end. It sets up an exciting, winner-take-all showdown between two teams fighting for their postseason lives.