The tables have turned as the Trail Blazers enter Saturday’s play-in game as the eighth seed to face the ninth-seeded Grizzlies. At the start of the seeding games, the two were flipped—Memphis had a comfortable lead on Portland for eighth and the real battle appeared to be for the ninth spot.
Even though the initial top two teams eventually qualified for the play-in game, the swapped seeding makes all the difference. The Blazers only have to win one contest to advance—opposed to two for the Grizzlies.
The Blazers and Grizzlies have met twice this season, one of which came in the bubble.