Melo guarantees Thunder playoff appearance: 'We'll be there'

With the regular season winding down, Carmelo Anthony is ready to book the Oklahoma City Thunder's ticket to the postseason.

"We'll be there. We'll be there," Anthony said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Royce Young. "I think we're confident enough to know that we'll be there. Where? We'll see when that time comes, but I believe we'll be there. It's something we planned on doing when we put this team together. It's something at the beginning of the season, this is what we were looking forward to. This is why we put this team together."

It's been a tumultuous campaign for Anthony, who is scoring fewer than 20 points per game (16.3) for the first time in his career and he's had to adjust to life as a supporting contributor alongside reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and five-time All-Star Paul George. In so doing, the 33-year-old future Hall of Famer is likely to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

The Thunder's destiny is ultimately in their hands. With seven games remaining on their regular-season schedule, OKC sits as the fourth seed. In the competitive Western Conference, however, the fourth seed amounts to being 2.5 games behind the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers and 3.5 games up on the ninth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.

Until they officially clinch, nothing is assured for the Thunder - especially in a league where playoff berths are often decided on the final day of the regular season. Anthony and Co. will have an opportunity to bolster their playoff odds Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs.