Week 24 Watchlist: 10 important video games in NBA playoff chase

We know the 20 groups that can take part within the postseason, however a lot stays to be determined over the ultimate two weeks of the 2025-26 common season.

In the East, the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics have clinched playoff berths with assured top-six finishes. While the highest 4 groups have earned some separation from the pack, seeds 5-10 are separated by simply 3 1/2 video games.

In the West, the Thunder and Spurs have clinched playoff berths and can battle for the No. 1 seed. The defending champion Thunder maintain a 2 1/2-game lead, however San Antonio has the tiebreaker. Below them, seeds No. 3-6 are separated by simply three video games.

With these races so tight, listed below are 10 must-watch video games this week that can have the largest impression on the postseason image.

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March 30

Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat (7 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Week 24 opens on Peacock with the ultimate regular-season assembly between two groups presently within the East SoFi Play-In Tournament area: No. 7 Philadelphia (41-33) and No. 9 Miami (39-36). With the season collection tied 1-1, this can decide the head-to-head tiebreaker if wanted.

While the Sixers sit on the prime of the Play-In, they’ve an opportunity to interrupt into the highest six for a assured playoff berth. Additionally, Philly is only a half-game behind of No. 6 Atlanta and one sport again of No. 5 Toronto.

Although the Heat are three video games again of the highest six, they’re solely a half-game behind No. 8 Orlando within the prime half of the Play-In area. Miami has earned its playoff spot by way of the Play-In every of the previous three seasons – from the No. 10, 8, and seven spots, respectively.

Detroit Pistons at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET, Peacock)

The stakes are a bit completely different within the nightcap as each convention leaders have already secured playoff berths. However, each enter the ultimate two-week dash trying to maintain onto their respective No. 1 seeds towards rising contenders.

Oklahoma City (59-16) has the NBA’s prime document, however has the league’s hardest remaining schedule (primarily based on remaining opponent win proportion) and holds solely a two-game benefit within the loss column over No. 2 San Antonio. The Spurs not solely maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker (4-1) over OKC, however they’re a league-best 24-2 since Feb. 1 – three video games higher than the Thunder.

Detroit (54-20) holds a four-game benefit over Boston within the East, however should proceed to search out methods to win with out All-Star Cade Cunningham as he recovers from a collapsed lung. The Pistons have gone 5-1 since Cunningham’s damage, however six of their closing eight opponents are within the postseason race.

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March 31

• Portland Trail Blazers at LA Clippers (11 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

A matchup between two groups straddling an vital line of distinction within the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament: the No. 8 Clippers (39-36) and No. 9 Blazers (38-38).

The prime two groups within the area (ending the common season No. 7 and eight) have two possibilities to win one sport and safe a playoff berth. The backside two groups (No. 9 and 10) want two wins and, after that, can solely earn the No. 8 seed within the playoffs.

This is the primary of two remaining video games between these groups (the opposite is on April 10), and is important for Portland. The Blazers not solely path the Clippers within the standings, however the LA leads the season collection 2-0. A win right here would clinch the tiebreaker for LA.

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April 1

• Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass)

We could also be previous the No. 6-7 craze from 2025, however the hole between No. 6 (the ultimate assured playoff berth) and No. 7 (the primary spot within the Play-In) stays paramount within the postseason race. This matchup sees No. 6 Atlanta (42-33) visiting No. 8 Orlando (39-35) in a key sport for each groups.

The Hawks, who’re 16-2 of their final 18 video games, are in the midst of a three-team race for the ultimate two assured playoff spots within the East. Atlanta trails the No. 5 Toronto Raptors by a half-game (the Raptors maintain the tiebreaker) and leads the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers by a half-game (the Hawks maintain the tiebreaker).

The Magic, who’re coming off a 52-point loss to Toronto, need to maintain off the No. 9 Heat and No. 10 Hornets (they’re a half-game up on every) within the Play-In chase. Orlando holds the tiebreaker over Miami, however not over Charlotte. A win over Atlanta would additionally increase Orlando’s hopes for a top-six end.

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April 2

• Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

This is the primary of two matchups in 5 days between these top-three groups within the Western Conference. While these two video games received’t change something between the Lakers and Thunder – L.A. (48-26) can’t catch OKC within the standings (59-16) – they might show pivotal for every workforce’s particular person race.

The Lakers enter Week 24 at No. 3 within the West, which is one of the best that they’ll end. (That’s as a result of they’re eight video games again of the Spurs with eight video games to play, and San Antonio owns the tiebreaker.) The Lakers’ focus is on holding off the three groups beneath them and tightening their grip on No. 3, which might assist them keep away from the highest seed within the West for the primary two rounds of the playoffs.

One factor in L.A.’s favor: tiebreakers. The Lakers personal the head-to-head tiebreakers over the three groups immediately beneath them within the West: 2-1 vs. No. 4 Denver, 3-0 vs. No. 5 Minnesota and 2-1 vs. No. 6 Houston.

• Phoenix Suns at Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass)

This is a matchup between two groups on reverse ends of their respective Play-In fields. The Suns (41-33) sit comfortably within the No. 7 spot within the West – 4 video games behind No. 6 Houston, 3.5 video games forward of the No. 8 LA Clippers. The Hornets (39-36), in the meantime, are in a good contest within the East.

No. 10 Charlotte is tied with No. 9 Miami (although the Heat personal the head-to-head tiebreaker, 3-1), however each groups are only a half-game again of No. 8 Orlando within the prime half of the East Play-In. The Hornets maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Magic (3-1) and have one of the best Southeast Division document among the many three groups (11-5) ought to a multi-team tiebreaker come into play.

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April 3

• Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass)

This is the one Friday matchup between two groups within the postseason area. Both groups have loads at stake as they stroll the tightrope between playoffs (prime six) and Play-In (7-10).

The Wolves maintain the No. 5 spot within the West by way of a tiebreaker over Houston as each groups are 5-5 of their final 10 video games. With Phoenix lurking at No. 7 (and holding the tiebreaker over Minnesota), can the Wolves safe a top-six end this week?

The Sixers are 7-3 of their final 10 video games and have their roster again at full energy with the returns of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. Sitting only a half-game again of No. 6 Atlanta and one sport again of No. 5 Toronto, are the Sixers poised to dash to the end line and safe a top-six end?

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April 4

• San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

The first of two remaining video games between these groups (additionally they meet on the ultimate day of the common season) sees the No. 2 Spurs (56-18) go to the No. 4 Nuggets (48-28). The groups break up their first two matchups this season, with each determined by 5 factors or much less.

While the Spurs have locked up a top-two end within the West, the Nuggets need to maintain onto their top-four place and earn home-court benefit within the first spherical. Denver is difficult the No. 3 Lakers (one sport again) and making an attempt to fend off No. 5 Minnesota and No. 6 Houston (two video games forward).

In addition to each groups making an attempt to raised their playoff place, this matchup additionally sees two of the highest three gamers within the newest Kia MVP Ladder — No. 1 Victor Wembanyama and No. 3 Nikola Jokić — squaring off. Jokić leads the all-time collection with Wembanyama 4-2.

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April 5

• Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

A matchup between two groups – No. 6 Houston (45-29) and No. 10 Golden State (36-39) – trying to climb from the underside of their present postseason race.

The Rockets enter the week holding the sixth and closing assured playoff spot within the West. While they’ve a reasonably comfy four-game lead on No. 7 Phoenix earlier than doubtlessly dropping into the Play-In, the Rockets have an opportunity to problem the No. 5 Wolves (tied, Minnesota holds the tiebreaker), No. 4 Nuggets (two video games again) and No. 3 Lakers (three video games again).

The Warriors are locked into the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament area (they’ll climb no increased than seventh and can’t be caught for tenth). However, attending to the highest half of the Play-In area comes with main benefits. To accomplish that, the Warriors must climb over the No. 9 Blazers (1 1/2 video games again) and No. 8 Clippers (three video games again).

A key query for the Warriors shall be whether or not Stephen Curry is out there for this closing push. The famous person shooter has been sidelined with a knee damage since Jan. 30.

• Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics (3:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)

On Sunday, Boston (50-24) joined Detroit as the one groups within the East to clinch a playoff berth. Toronto (42-32) is fifth within the convention and in an in depth three-team race to safe one of many closing assured two playoff spots. Toronto enters the week with only a half-game lead on No. 6 Atlanta and a one-game lead on No. 7 Philadelphia.

While the Celtics lead the season collection 3-0 and go for the sweep on Sunday, the Raptors will search for a well-timed win in Boston to spice up their probabilities of holding onto their top-six standing.

With just one sport separating Nos. 5-7, each sport is important for the Raptors from this level on. If they fall into the Play-In, might this sport additionally function a possible first-round playoff preview?