Where NBA playoff races stand with two games to go

[ad_1]

With every team having two games left — and every team in the league playing Friday and Sunday — there is still much to be decided with playoff seedings across the NBA.

Let’s break down the races, starting in the East.

Eastern Conference

1. Boston (62-18)
2. Milwaukee (49-31)
3. New York (48-32)
4. Cleveland (47-33)
5. Orlando (46-34)
6. Indiana (46-34)

Play-In

7. Philadelphia (45-35)
8. Miami (44-36)
9. Chicago (38-42)
10. Atlanta (36-44)

Boston locked up the top seed long ago, but Milwaukee needs to win one of its final two games to be the No. 2. If the Bucks — playing without the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo — lose their last two games (at Oklahoma City and at Orlando) and the Knicks win their last two (hosting Brooklyn and Chicago) then New York is the two seed and Milwaukee slides to third.

Cleveland vs. Indiana is one of the key games of Friday night. The Cavaliers need a win in their final two games (at Pacers and hosting the Hornets) to secure staying out of the play-in. Indiana may need that win more Friday night, with Philadelphia looming in the No. 7 seed and on a roll since the return of Joel Embiid. Indiana is in real danger of falling back to the play-in.

The biggest game of Friday night is Orlando at Philadelphia. If Embiid can get the 76ers a win over the Magic, then they will leap over Orlando in the standings — Philly will have swept the season series and own the tiebreaker. The Magic could fall back to the play-in, depending on what happens with Indiana vs. Cleveland. If the Magic win, they will avoid the play-in and will have a top-five seed. A Philadelphia loss could doom the 76ers to the play-in if the Pacers win.

Western Conference

1. Denver (56-24)
2. Minnesota (55-25)
3. Oklahoma City (55-25)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (51-29)
5. Dallas (50-30)
6. New Orleans (48-32)

Play-In

7. Phoenix (47-33)
8. Sacramento (45-35)
9. Golden State (45-35)
10. Los Angeles Lakers (45-35)

The Nuggets control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed, they get it if they can win their final two games: At San Antonio (not a pushover if Victor Wembanyama plays) and at Memphis. Oklahoma City and Minnesota are lurking but the Thunder…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/where-nba-playoff-races-stand-132431110.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-04-12 13:24:31

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.