What to Watch for: End of Regular Season Playoff Picture!
This is what it all comes down to! The final week of the regular season, but it’s only a few more days of games left before the playoffs start on Saturday! Here are all games this week that have playoff seeding implications!
Eastern Conference
Race for the 3rd Seed in the East
Going into Monday, the Hawks lead by one game over the Celtics. Both teams have wrapped up the fourth seed at worst. Hawks win both and it’s all theirs!
Hawks @ Bucks (Monday)
Celtics @ Bulls (Tuesday)
Bucks @ Celtics (Wednesday)
Cavs @ Hawks (Wednesday)
Race for the 5th Seed in the East
Going into Monday, the Bucks and Heat are tied for the fifth seed. Unless one team loses both games and the Bobcats win out, the other team will wrap up the sixth seed. Milwaukee holds the tiebreaker.
Hawks @ Bucks (Monday)
Heat @ Sixers (Monday)
Bucks @ Celtics (Wednesday)
Nets @ Heat (Wednesday)
Race for the 8th Seed in the East
Going into Monday, the Bulls lead the Raptors by one game for the last playoff spot in the East. If the Bulls win out, they win it all. If the Raptors win out and the Bulls win one, the two teams tie and the Raptors hold the tiebreaker.
Raptors @ Pistons (Monday)
Celtics @ Bulls (Tuesday)
Bulls @ Bobcats (Wednesday)
Knicks @ Raptors (Wednesday)
Western Conference
Race for the 2nd Seed in the West
The Mavs have clinched the Southwest division, but they have not clinched the second seed yet. If they win out, they take it. But the Nuggets, Jazz, and Suns all have a shot at the second seed, but the rest will end up in the third through fifth seed. Instead of spelling out all the possibilities, I’ll just say that each team really has to win to avoid a lower seed and possibly missing home court advantage in the first round!
Grizzlies @ Nuggets (Monday)
Mavs @ Clippers (Monday)
Jazz @ Warriors (Tuesday)
Nuggets @ Suns (Tuesday)
Spurs @ Mavs (Wednesday)
Suns @ Jazz (Wednesday)
Race for the 6th Seed in the West
The race for the sixth seed out West is less about making the higher seeding; it’s more about preventing a first round date with the Lakers! Going into Monday, the Blazers, Spurs and Thunder are all tied for the sixth seed. One loss could lead to a series with LA, so they gotta win!
T’Wolves @ Spurs (Monday)
Thunder @ Blazers (Monday)
Spurs @ Mavs (Wednesday)
Grizzlies @ Thunder (Wednesday)
Warriors @ Blazers (Wednesday)
Check back with NBAtoday.net for updated game wrap-ups and situations on the playoff picture!
-Shooter
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