NBA standings: Blazers-Nets decide Suns’ play-in chances

Aug 13, 2020, 3:40 PM | Updated: 3:53 pm

Phoenix Suns' Cameron Johnson (23) passes the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

(Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

The Phoenix Suns completed a perfect appearance in the NBA bubble with a win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

Now their fate is up to a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Brooklyn Nets at 6 p.m. Arizona time Thursday.

The Suns, Grizzlies and Blazers sit at 34-39 on the year with Portland having one more game to go.

The Memphis Grizzlies’ win over the Milwaukee Bucks that ended at the same time as the Suns’ 128-102 win over the Mavs locked Memphis into the play-in series. If Portland wins against Brooklyn on Thursday night, it will hold the No. 8 seed in the play-in round.

Phoenix and Memphis winning simultaneously eliminated the San Antonio Spurs from making the play-in round.

Before going 8-0 at Disney World, the Suns entered Orlando needing to make up 2.5 games on the ninth seed to earn a play-in spot, but Phoenix needed to surpass the Blazers, Spurs, Pelicans and Kings. The Suns would have to be within 4.0 games of the eighth seed to earn a play-in opportunity, and the Grizzlies sat 6.0 games ahead of them when play in the bubble began.

Memphis lost its first four games and starting power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. before picking up two wins in the final four outings to hold off the surging Suns and others heading into the final day.

The Blazers face the Nets looking to hold off a Brooklyn team hit by injuries and opt-outs but with a surprising 5-2 record in the bubble.

Because teams played an unequal number of games before the coronavirus suspended the season, the first tiebreakers for teams will be winning percentage. That means if Portland loses, Phoenix will be the No. 9 seed and play Memphis, which has the same 34-39 record but beat the Suns head-to-head this year.

If the Suns can win the No. 9 seed, they would need to beat the Grizzlies twice in two games to earn the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, earning them a chance to face the Los Angeles Lakers, who locked up the top seed.

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Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns players take a knee during the national anthem before the start of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Players take a knee during the national anthem before the start of an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Darius Bazley (7) shoots against Phoenix Suns' Ricky Rubio (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Mike Muscala (33) and Phoenix Suns' Dario Saric (20) go up for the tip off at the start of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chris Paul warms up for an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chris Paul shoots a free throw against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chris Paul moves the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker, left, tries to shoot past Oklahoma City Thunder's Abdel Nader, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Darius Bazley looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Phoenix Suns' Frank Kaminsky shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder's Darius Bazley defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Devon Hall drives against Phoenix Suns' Jevon Carter during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan looks on during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Darius Bazley moves the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Phoenix Suns' Jevon Carter (4) looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Devon Hall drives against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chris Paul (3), left, is pressured by Phoenix Suns' Jevon Carter during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Hamidou Diallo (6) moves the ball against the Phoenix Suns during an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton looks to pass against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chris Paul (3) is defended by Phoenix Suns players during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Luguentz Dort (5) goes up for a shot against Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton (22) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Phoenix Suns' Cameron Johnson (23) knocks the ball out of the hands of Oklahoma City Thunder's Darius Bazley (7) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Luguentz Dort, center, passes around Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker (1) and Deandre Ayton (22) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Hamidou Diallo (6) and Steven Adams (27) fight for the ball against Phoenix Suns' Jevon Carter (4) and Dario Saric (20) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chris Paul (3) talks with referee Josh Tiven, left, as coach Billy Donovan looks on during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Luguentz Dort (5) shoots a three-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Phoenix Suns' Cameron Johnson, left, is pressured by Oklahoma City Thunder's Terrance Ferguson, right, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Phoenix Suns' Cameron Payne, top, goes up to shoot against Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Hervey, left, during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chris Paul (3) is pressured by Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)

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