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It’s all in regards to the drama. Just a few years again, the NBA borrowed an concept from European soccer leagues and had all its groups play on the similar time — or no less than inside the similar convention — so there was no benefit to realizing what was wanted. It units up a state of affairs wherein two video games are ending practically concurrently, with main playoff implications.
This yr, 9 of the 15 video games on Sunday have some degree of postseason implications. Here is every part it is advisable to know.
Eastern Conference
The prime 4 seeds within the East are locked in: 1) Detroit; 2) Boston; 3) New York; 4) Cleveland.
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Atlanta can lock up the No. 5 seed with a win in Miami, establishing a first-round matchup with Cleveland. However, an Atlanta loss mixed with a Toronto win would transfer the Raptors as much as fifth and drop the Hawks to sixth (and a first-round assembly with New York). A Toronto loss additionally secures Atlanta the No. 6 seed as does, oddly, an Atlanta loss however wins by each Toronto and Orlando (the Hawks would win the three-way tiebreaker).
If Toronto loses, it may fall to seventh if Orlando wins, which brings us to the following video games that matter.
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
If Orlando can win on the highway, it locks into the No. 7 seed, with an out of doors likelihood of leaping previous Toronto to No. 6 and avoiding the play-in if the Raptors lose at residence to the Nets (unlikely however not unattainable). However, if Orlando loses in Boston, Philadelphia would soar as much as No. 7 it may win at residence over the tanking Bucks.
Orlando and Philadelphia will probably face one another within the first spherical of the play-in, however the No. 7 seed will host that recreation.
Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Charlotte had a powerful finish to the season, however wants yet one more win to safe the No. 9 seed and be at residence for the primary of two play-in video games it should win to make the playoffs (the Knicks are sitting 4 of their 5 starters for this recreation). If Charlotte loses and Miami wins, the Heat soar as much as ninth and host the play-in recreation.
Western Conference
The prime two seeds are locked in: 1)Oklahoma City; 2) San Antonio. That doesn’t imply the Spurs don’t have one thing to play for on Sunday.
Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers, 8:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
The Nuggets at Spurs is the juiciest recreation of the day.
San Antonio may give itself a possible a lot simpler path to the Western Conference Finals if it exhibits up on the ultimate day of the season and beats Denver. If the Nuggets lose and the shorthanded Lakers can beat tanking Utah at residence, then the Lakers soar the Nuggets to be the No. 3 seed (Los Angeles and Denver could be tied, however the Lakers have the tiebreaker because of that wild recreation just a few weeks again the place Austin Reaves’ intentionally-missed free throw rebound and bucket compelled extra time, then Luka Doncic gained it in OT with a tremendous baseline jumper).
HLs: Reaves heroics encourage Lakers to comeback win
The Los Angeles Lakers refused to again down towards the Denver Nuggets at residence as Austin Reaves’ last-second scoring propelled the Lakers to a comeback win towards the Nuggets in OT.
Neither Oklahoma City nor San Antonio needs to see Nikola Jokic and Denver within the second spherical. Denver is — for my cash — one of many three greatest groups within the NBA and a real title contender. If the Nuggets fall to the No. 4 seed, they might line as much as face the Thunder within the second spherical in a titanic battle (assuming each win their first-round collection). Also in that situation, if the Spurs win their collection towards a play-in crew, they might face the winner of the Rockets vs. Lakers first-round collection — two good groups, however neither as threatening because the Nuggets.
Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 8:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, 8:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
The Trail Blazers beat the Clippers on Friday night time and, with that, management their very own future — beat the Kings on Sunday and Portland finishes No. 8 within the West and can journey to Phoenix for a win-and-you’re-in play-in recreation (and the Trail Blazers would simply must win one in every of two video games to make the playoffs). However, if the Trail Blazers stumble and the Clippers beat the Warriors, the Clippers would transfer as much as No. 8 and journey to Phoenix, whereas Portland would fall to ninth and host the Warriors within the first of two play-in video games it must win to advance.
The Warriors at Clippers recreation is a little bit odd as a result of these two groups are very more likely to flip round and face one another just a few days later in a win-or-go-home recreation, so we may see some uncommon lineups and two coaches making an attempt to not tip their arms.
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