Kings playoff tracker: How Sacramento can clinch playoff spot and homecourt advantage

The Kings missed an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth at home Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the odds will be heavily in their favor when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday at Moda Center.

Sacramento’s magic number has been stuck at one since Saturday’s victory over the Utah Jazz. The Kings could have clinched Sunday with a Warriors loss to the Timberwolves, Monday with a home win over the Timberwolves or Tuesday with a Warriors loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, but none of those games went Sacramento’s way.

Now, the Kings are headed to the Pacific Northwest, where they will face a depleted Portland team that will be missing several key players, including seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic. If the Kings win, they will clinch an automatic playoff bid and homecourt advantage in the first round. The Kings can also punch their ticket to the playoffs with a Timberwolves loss to the Phoenix Suns or a Los Angeles Clippers loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

The Kings haven’t been to the playoffs since 2006. They are on the verge of ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history and the longest active streak in North American professional sports. This could be the day Kings fans have been waiting for.

Record: 45-30

Current position: No. 3 in the Western Conference

Who they would play: If the playoffs started today, the Kings would play the No. 6 seed, the Warriors, in the first round of the playoffs.

Homecourt advantage: Yes, the Kings would currently have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, which will begin April 15.

Next up: The Kings will play the Trail Blazers on Wednesday at Moda Center in Portland.

Games remaining: 7

Magic number for playoffs: 1

The top six teams in the West will secure automatic playoff berths. The Warriors (40-37) are sixth in the West followed by the Timberwolves (39-37) in seventh. One more Kings win or one loss by the Warriors or Timberwolves will send Sacramento to the playoffs.

Magic number for homecourt advantage: 1

The top four teams in the West will have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns (40-35) are fourth in the West. The Clippers (40-36) are fifth followed by the Warriors. With one more win, the Kings will assure themselves of a top-four seed and homecourt advantage.