Trail Blazers Face Clippers for 8th Seed Spot

Portland looks to move up in Western Conference standings with a win over LA on Friday night.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:25am by

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An abstract, fragmented painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, using sharp geometric shapes and planes of bright red, black, blue, and red to depict a basketball game between two teams in an energetic, conceptual manner.The high-stakes matchup between the Trail Blazers and Clippers is rendered in a dynamic, Cubist style that captures the intensity and competitive spirit of the game.Portland Today

The Portland Trail Blazers are set to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night in a crucial matchup that could determine the 8th seed in the Western Conference. The Blazers currently hold the 9th place spot with a 40-40 record, just one game behind the 8th-seed Clippers. A win over the Clippers would put both teams at 41-40 for the season and move the Blazers up to 8th place under NBA tie-breaker rules.

Why it matters

This game has major playoff implications, as the 8th seed will face the 7th seed Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament, while the 9th seed will play the 10th seed Golden State Warriors. The winner of the 7th/8th place game will then move on to face the 2nd seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

The details

The Blazers would move to 2-2 against the Clippers with a win on Friday, which is the first tie-breaker criteria the NBA uses when two teams are tied. The Blazers also have a better conference record at 27-23 compared to the Clippers' 24-26 record. After Friday's matchup, the Blazers would need either a win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday or a loss by the Clippers against the Golden State Warriors to hold the 8th spot.

  • The Blazers and Clippers face off on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • The Blazers' regular season finale is on Sunday, April 13, 2026.

The players

Portland Trail Blazers

An NBA team based in Portland, Oregon that currently holds the 9th place spot in the Western Conference with a 40-40 record.

Los Angeles Clippers

An NBA team based in Los Angeles, California that currently holds the 8th place spot in the Western Conference with a 41-39 record.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge game for us. We know what's at stake and we're ready to go out there and get the win.”

— Damian Lillard, Point Guard, Portland Trail Blazers

“We've had some tough battles with the Blazers this season, but we're confident we can get the job done on Friday and solidify our playoff spot.”

— Paul George, Small Forward, Los Angeles Clippers

What’s next

After Friday's matchup, the Blazers would need either a win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday or a loss by the Clippers against the Golden State Warriors to hold the 8th spot.

The takeaway

This game between the Blazers and Clippers will have major implications on the Western Conference playoff picture, with the winner securing the 8th seed and a spot in the play-in tournament. Both teams are fighting hard to make the postseason, setting up an exciting matchup with high stakes.