Duels for postseason spots enter final week
The last week of the NBA season has arrived. There are 14 games tonight, 13 of which have some form of playoff implications.
The big game tonight: A likely play-in tournament preview with Golden State visiting the Los Angeles Lakers, a meeting of teams with championship pedigree that could meet next week in an elimination game.
This week is all about playoff positioning. In the East, Milwaukee, Orlando, New York and Cleveland will likely finish second through fifth in some order. In the West, Denver, Minnesota and Oklahoma City will almost certainly finish 1-2-3 — again, in some order — and the Los Angeles Clippers seemed to be almost locked into the No. 4 spot.
National TV: The day’s lineup includes every team except Cleveland and Brooklyn, with two games nationally televised on TNT and truTV: Boston at Milwaukee at 7:30 and Golden State at the Lakers at 10.
Who’s in/who’s out: The only seed that has been locked up is East No. 1, which Boston wrapped up weeks ago.
Denver, Minnesota and Oklahoma City have clinched playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Boston and Milwaukee have clinched spots from the Eastern Conference.
There will be 20 teams still in the race for the Larry O’Brien Trophy when the regular season ends Sunday, and those 20 slots are already claimed — with Chicago and Atlanta certain to be in the play-in tournament next week.
As of now, Philadelphia, Miami, New Orleans, Sacramento, the Lakers and Golden State also hold what would be the play-in spots.
Brooklyn, Toronto, Charlotte, Washington, Detroit, Houston, Utah, Memphis, Portland and San Antonio have been eliminated from all postseason contention.
Betting guide: Boston has home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and is currently the favorites to win the championship, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Celtics are listed at +170, well ahead of defending champion Denver (+360). Next up: Milwaukee (+800), the Clippers (+850) and Oklahoma City (+1400).