NBA playoff chase is ramping up
Don’t forget the NBA. With much attention on the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the NBA regular season is winding down with playoff spots and seeds at stake in the final three weeks.
Twenty-four of 30 NBA teams are in playoff contention, and while some teams are definitely headed for the playoffs, seeds and playoffs spots are undetermined.
In the East, the top three teams (Milwaukee, Boston and Philadelphia) were separated by three games headed into Tuesday. Fourth-place Cleveland was three games ahead of New York and one game was between sixth-place Brooklyn and seventh-place Miami.
When it comes to the East play-in game scenario, spots 8-12 (Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago, Washington, Indiana) were within 3 1⁄2 games.
It’s a wild situation in the West, too. First-place Denver has struggled recently but it still had a 3 1⁄2-game lead over Memphis and 4 1⁄2 over Sacramento.
Spots 4-12 (Phoenix, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State, Dallas, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Utah, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans) were separated by just four games and 6-12 were within two games of each other.
There’s lots of time left to move up and down in the standings. Let’s take a look at the 12 most important games in the NBA this week:
Wednesday
Golden State at Dallas, 7:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN
The Warriors are in a danger of missing the playoffs after winning the title last season.
Atlanta at Minnesota, 8 p.m. EDT, NBA League Pass
There are two teams battling for a spot in the play-in games.
Phoenix at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. EDT, ESPN
While both can’t afford to lose, the Suns are in better playoff position than the Lakers.
Thursday
Cleveland at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. EDT, NBA League Pass
The Nets have remained competitive since trading Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
Friday
Philadelphia at Golden State, 10 p.m. EDT, NBA TV
The Sixers are the secondbest team in the league recordwise since Jan. 1.
Phoenix at Sacramento, 10 p.m. EDT, NBA League Pass
This is a potential playoff matchup.
Saturday
Brooklyn at Miami, 8 p.m. EDT, NBA League Pass
One of these teams is likely to secure a playoff spot and one is likely to be in the play-in game scenario.
Milwaukee at Denver, 9 p.m. EDT, NBA TV
The Bucks are trying to hold off Philadelphia and Boston for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia at Phoenix, 10 p.m. EDT, NBA League Pass
The Suns are awaiting the return of injured star Kevin Durant.
New Orleans at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m. EDT, NBA League Pass
The Pelicans, once at the top of the West standings, are on the outside looking in but with a chance to get in.
Sunday
Washington at Toronto, 6 p.m. EDT, NBA League Pass
The Wizards have work to do if they want to get into the postseason.
Minnesota at Golden State, 8:30 p.m. EDT, NBA TV
Both of these teams need this game.