Here is how the Phoenix Suns make the play-in games

The Phoenix Suns still have a chance to make the playoffs, but they need to beat the Mavericks and have either the Grizzlies or Blazers to lose on Thursday.

This Disney bubble has been more thrilling than riding Space Mountain on repeat, and the Phoenix Suns are one of the main reasons why. The team that no one considered to be a threat is now a couple bounces of the ball away from entering into the league’s first-ever play-in game scenario.

The Suns were a hair away from controlling their own destiny, but the basketball gods and Damian Lillard (who may be among them) intervened and propelled the Portland Trail Blazers to a win over the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday evening.

Lillard had 61 points including this insane bounce off the rim from 40-feet that almost hit the ceiling before falling back through the rim. Absolutely crazy.

The referees didn’t help either. They called an extremely tight game, which led to 18 of Dame’s points coming from the free-throw line and 54 fouls in total, including a suspect offensive foul in the closing seconds, waving off what would have been a go-ahead 3-pointer for Dallas.

But that game is done.

In better news, the Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Boston Celtics Tuesday, so as we go into Thursday, the following things need to happen:

• The Phoenix Suns need to beat the Dallas Mavericks AND one of the following:
  • The Brooklyn Nets need to beat the Portland Trail Blazers
  • The Milwaukee Bucks need to beat the Memphis Grizzlies

If everyone loses, then the Spurs have a shot, but let’s be serious, screw the Spurs.

Let’s look at the chance of this scenario plays out and the Suns do the unthinkable: