Four days of seeded games remain, and the playoff race of the West reaches its breaking point. The seeded games run through Friday, but all relevant play-in games will be settled by Thursday, when the Portland Trail Blazers play the Brooklyn Nets.
There are many scenarios still in play, but the picture will clear up a bit after Tuesday at least. The Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns are closing the gap on the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, who could completely fall out of the controversy ahead of the play-in tournament.
The Spurs are up for the first time on Tuesday, taking on the Houston Rockets, who are still jockeying for position in the Nos. 4-6 seed range. The Suns are still rolling, moving to 6-0 in the bubble, and will face the playing Philadelphia 76ers. The Grizzlies are 1-5 in the bubble and have a tough sign to finish, starting with the Boston Celtics. Boston could rest starters with its position locked up, but the Celtics have a fine line to draw between being ready and resting. Damian Lillard is on a score, and his Blazers will hire a Dallas Mavericks team that is still trying to avoid a first-class matchup with the LA Clippers.
Here is the current situation:
The Grizzlies get the 8-seed if they win their last two games or if they win one and Portland loses one or if Portland loses both, Phoenix loses one and San Antonio loses one. The Blazers come in if they win their last two and Memphis loses one or if they win one and Memphis loses both, with the Spurs and Suns splitting their last two. The Suns come in when they win their last two, the Grizzlies lose their last two and the Blazers split their two. The Spurs come in as they win their last two, Memphis loses both and Portland and Phoenix split their last two.
Towards the end of the case Tuesday, the Grizzlies were able to close out No. 8 as they defeated the Celtics and the Blazers lost to the Mavericks. That is the only outcome that could be regulated in terms of no. 8.
For the 9-seed? If the Blazers defeat the Mavericks and lose everyone else, Portland is at least guaranteed No. 9. Moreover, things will have to wait until Thursday. – Royce Young
Here’s the latest on the standings, the games to watch Monday and Tuesday, and everything else you need to know. Check back all day for highlights and updates.
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Last buzz
The climactic scenarios of Tuesday
Here they are, directly from the NBA computers:
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Memphis sounds like a place in the play-in-game with a win OR loss by both Phoenix and San Antonio
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Portland clinches a spot in the play-in game with a win AND loss by Phoenix and San Antonio
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Phoenix is eliminated with a loss AND a Portland win
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San Antonio is eliminated with a loss AND a win by Portland or Phoenix
So at the end of the day, both play-in opponents could be set for Saturday, if neither could, in which case we will do this dance again on Thursday.
Games for must-see from Tuesday
Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs | 2 pm ET
After winning Sunday against the Pelicans, the Spurs hope to stay in the race for a spot in a play-off tournament by defeating their in-state rivals. Houston also has something to play for: The Rockets are trying to secure the fourth seed in the Western Conference. – Tim Bontemps
Boston Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies | 5 pm ET
Memphis still has everything to play for and needs a win in one of its last two games against Boston or Milwaukee to secure itself a spot in the play-in tournament next weekend. The Grizzlies could get a break while playing the Celtics, who are trapped in the third seed and have nothing to play for. – Bontemps
Additional games
Full scoreboard for Tuesday
Play-in watch
The Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans were eliminated from the context period on Sunday, giving the chance to make the play-off tournament to the Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, Suns and Spurs. All four of those teams play Tuesday with not much room for error.
The no. 8 Grizzlies have yet to secure a bid for postseason and must win their last two games to control their destination. On Tuesday, they play the Celtics, who have little to play for and starters can rest. The Suns will also face a tough East team, but the Sixers will be without Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
The Spurs and Blazers face West teams still playing for their seeding. The Rockets and Mavericks each sit one game behind the team in front of them, with three and two games left, respectively.
Western Conference
8. Memphis Grizzlies | 33-38 (.465) | –
9. Portland Trail Blazers | 33-39 (.458) | 0.5 GB
10 Phoenix Suns | 32-39 (.451) | 1.0 GB
11 San Antonio Spurs | 31-38 (.449) | 1.0 GB
Full pitches | Playoff matchups
The must-see games of Wednesday
Indiana Pacers Vs. Houston Rockets | 4 pm ET
Bubble estimator TJ Warren will be looking to get back on track after a disappointing game (12 points, 5-of-14 shots, 2-of-6 of 3) against the Miami Heat. However, Warren is averaging 31 points per game in the bubble, with a 57.8 / 52.4 / 88.9 shooting line. The Pacers hope Warren will restart his scoring game as they are on course to face Miami in the first round. Houston, meanwhile, will be on the second night of a back-to-back. Russell Westbrook will miss Wednesday’s game for halftime, though it is planned to have Eric Gordon back. Gordon has not played in any seeding games due to a sprained ankle. – Andrew Lopez
LA Clippers Vs. Denver Nuggets | 9 pm ET
This game could end with the decision of the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference – or leave Denver fighting to not fall to the No. 4 seed, depending on Houston’s performance. To go up from no. 3 to no. 2, Denver would have to win back-to-back games to complete the seeding games, and the Clippers would have to drop both of their games. Denver comes off a three-point loss to the Lakers in which Kyle Kuzma’s 3-pointer from Kyle Kuzma with 0.4 left raised Los Angeles over Denver’s bench, who played the entire fourth. The Clippers come away from two days of rest after the Sunday 129-120 loss to the Nets. However, it was Kawhi Leonard’s best performance in the bubble, as he finished with 39 points – tied for the third-most points he has scored in a game this season. – Lopez
Additional games
Full scoreboard for Wednesday
Analysis and intel
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