Breaking down the Warriors’ tiebreakers in the West’s crowded middle

As the Warriors enter the NBA’s final weekend, there is still a lot left to determine in terms of playoff positioning.

The Dubs head to Sacramento on Friday as the No. 6 seed in the West but could finish anywhere from the No. 5 seed all the way down to No. 9, depending on how this weekend goes.

The NBA’s defending champs will finish their regular season at Portland on Sunday afternoon after the road game at Sacramento, giving the Warriors a chance to try and find their rhythm away from Chase Center. The Dubs carry a 9-30 road record into this weekend, making them one of only four teams in the NBA to lose 30 or more road games this season. The other three are the league’s three-worst teams: Houston, Detroit and San Antonio.

Could there be some strategizing about potential opponents heading into this weekend? Teams obviously want to avoid the play-in tournament, but the new-look Phoenix Suns, with Kevin Durant added next to Devin Booker, are locked into the No. 4 seed and may be a foe other teams try to avoid.

Two wins would guarantee the Warriors a top-six spot and would allow them to miss the play-in entirely. Any loss opens the door for others, though.

Here’s how the muddied middle of the West stacks up and their remaining games this weekend:

Western Conference 5-9 seeds and remaining games

5. Clippers (42-38): Saturday vs. Portland, Sunday at Phoenix

6. Warriors (42-38): Friday at Sacramento, Sunday at Portland

7. Lakers (41-39): Friday vs. Phoenix, Sunday vs. Utah

8. Pelicans (41-39): Friday vs. New York, Sunday at Minnesota

9. Timberwolves (40-40): Saturday at San Antonio, Sunday vs. New Orleans

In the event that Golden State finishes tied with any other Western Conference foes, here is the Warriors’ tiebreaker situation with each team:

Lakers: LA wins tiebreaker by winning three of four head-to-head games this season.

Clippers: Teams split four games this season. Clippers win tiebreaker based on division record (Clippers 8-7, Warriors 6-9).

Pelicans: Teams split season series. New Orleans wins tiebreaker based on conference record (Pelicans 29-22, Warriors 28-22, but results to reach a tie would move New Orleans ahead).

Timberwolves: Teams split season series. Minnesota wins tiebreaker based on conference record (Warriors 28-22, Timberwolves 27-23, but results to reach a tie would move Minnesota ahead).

And some possible three-way tiebreaker scenarios:

GSW-LAC-LAL: Clippers first, Lakers second, Warriors third – based on head-to-head record (Clippers 6-2, Lakers 3-5, Warriors 3-5, then goes to Lakers 3-1 vs. Warriors)

GSW-LAC-NO: Pelicans first, Warriors second, Clippers third – based on conference record (Pelicans 29-22, Warriors 28-22, Clippers 25-25)

GSW-LAL-NO: Lakers first, Pelicans second, Warriors third – based on head-to-head record (Lakers 6-2, Pelicans 3-5, Warriors 3-5) and conference record (Pelicans 29-22, Warriors 28-22)

GSW-MIN-NO: Timberwolves first, Warriors second, Pelicans third – based on head-to-head record (Timberwolves 4-3, Warriors 4-4, Pelicans 3-4)