By NBA insiders | ESPN, 2025-02-19 20:00:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
奈飞 (Netflix) 的《Formula 1: Drive to Survive》（一级方程式：极速求生）因其对一级方程式中游车队戏剧性的故事讲述而大获成功，它聚焦于那些没有参与冠军争夺，但面临巨大财政风险和重要人物参与的高压之下的车队。
你也可以对本赛季NBA下半程拍摄类似的纪录片——而且，并非巧合的是，奈飞正在与凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant)和詹姆斯·哈登 (James Harden)等几位效力于“中游”球队的大牌球星合作拍摄一部纪录片——因为各支球队为了摆脱中游位置而进行的激烈竞争充满了戏剧性。
看看那些在交易截止日完成了重磅交易的球队。你不会认为金州勇士得到吉米·巴特勒，达拉斯独行侠和洛杉矶湖人互换卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Dončić)和安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis)，或者萨克拉门托国王用达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox)交易扎克·拉文 (Zach LaVine)等举动，代表着这些球队对现状感到满意。他们都身处联盟中游，花费巨大，却对此并不满意。
克利夫兰骑士和俄克拉荷马城雷霆这两支分列东西部榜首的球队，很可能会保持领先地位，直到季后赛真正考验他们的实力。而紧随其后的卫冕冠军波士顿凯尔特人和丹佛掘金则着眼于长远，将有实力再次冲击总冠军。
但是中游球队，才是真正精彩的地方。在接下来的两个月里，很多球员的声誉、续约合同和工作岗位都岌岌可危。在这场零和游戏中，能够进入全面争冠阶段的位置太少了。你将会看到压力和绝望真正显现出来。
那么，你应该关注哪些对决呢？我们为你准备了一份常规赛最后几个月的观赛指南，包括交易截止日后的重逢以及潜在的季后赛竞争。– Brian Windhorst
米德尔顿重返雄鹿
密尔沃基雄鹿队 对阵 华盛顿奇才队 (2月21日，美国东部时间晚上7点)
在雄鹿队在本月初的交易截止日前将克里斯·米德尔顿 (Khris Middleton)交易到华盛顿之前，他自2013-14赛季，也就是扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo)的新秀赛季以来，就一直效力于密尔沃基。雄鹿队总经理乔恩·霍斯特 (Jon Horst)称这笔交易是他职业生涯中最艰难的决定。这代表着一位球队标志性人物时代的结束，这位球星本赛季因伤状态下滑。但是，通过交易得到凯尔·库兹马 (Kyle Kuzma)是密尔沃基为了在阿德托昆博的巅峰期继续延长球队的争冠窗口的又一次努力。时间会证明雄鹿的赌博是否正确，但米德尔顿将有机会在全明星周末后立即与他2020-21赛季的冠军队友们对阵。– Jamal Collier
AD、勒布朗重聚，卢卡回归达拉斯
达拉斯独行侠队 对阵 洛杉矶湖人队 (2月25日，美国东部时间晚上10点，TNT)
在戴维斯和东契奇互换不到一个月后，独行侠将前往洛杉矶，如果戴维斯缺席，这场比赛的光彩将大大减弱。这位大个子在达拉斯首秀中贡献了26分、16个篮板、7次助攻和3个盖帽的出色表现后，左内收肌伤势加重，此后一直缺席比赛。湖人球迷肯定会以热烈的掌声欢迎他回来，记得他对2019-20赛季总冠军的关键贡献，但如果他没有穿球衣，没有与前队友对阵，比赛的影响力就会大打折扣。然而，马克斯·克里斯蒂 (Max Christie)也将回归，并可能会有一些时间来防守东契奇，这应该会引起湖人球迷的复杂情绪，因为他们在克里斯蒂在洛杉矶发展期间对他非常喜爱。– Dave McMenamin
洛杉矶湖人队 对阵 达拉斯独行侠队 (4月9日，美国东部时间晚上7:30，ESPN)
这肯定将是我们在联盟近期记忆中最超现实的场景之一。独行侠的球迷仍然会为失去东契奇而感到悲伤，这笔交易是NBA历史上最令人震惊的交易之一。可以肯定的是，绝大多数到场观众，即使是长期达拉斯球迷，都会希望看到双方史诗般的复仇表现。东契奇的致敬视频（假设有的话）将成为一次非常尴尬的活动，因为球迷们自从圣诞节他受伤以来，就没有再看到他身穿独行侠球衣打球了。– Tim MacMahon
东部决赛预演？
克利夫兰骑士队 对阵 波士顿凯尔特人队 (2月28日，美国东部时间晚上7:30，ESPN)
在本月初NBA交易截止日前主场输给凯尔特人后，骑士队大胆地从亚特兰大老鹰队得到德安德烈·亨特 (De’Andre Hunter)，交易筹码包括卡里斯·勒韦尔 (Caris LeVert)和乔治斯·尼昂 (Georges Niang)。克利夫兰本可以满足于他们出色的常规赛表现，但得到一名更大的侧翼球员来对抗凯尔特人队的杰森·塔图姆 (Jayson Tatum)和杰伦·布朗 (Jaylen Brown)，证明了骑士队有着远大的目标。这场比赛将是亨特第一次有机会展示他的能力，而这很可能就是今年春天东部决赛的预演。– Tim Bontemps
切特 vs. 文班，第二回合
俄克拉荷马城雷霆队 对阵 圣安东尼奥马刺队 (3月2日，美国东部时间晚上7点，ESPN)
这场比赛是切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren)和维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)之间的第五次常规赛交锋，前者目前以3胜1负领先。
早在10月份，这两位7尺长人之间的首次对决中，文班亚马只得到了赛季最低的6分，这也是他在2024-25赛季唯一一次得分未能上双。文班亚马唯一一次获胜是在去年二月份，虽然他的辅助阵容通过福克斯的交易得到了加强，但马刺仍然没有雷霆的全部实力。
期待文班亚马面临严峻的考验，因为他必须在这场对决中限制霍姆格伦 和 以赛亚·哈尔滕施泰因 (Isaiah Hartenstein)（因手伤错过了第一场比赛）。– Michael C. Wright
福克斯重返萨克拉门托
圣安东尼奥马刺队 对阵 萨克拉门托国王队 (3月7日，美国东部时间晚上10点)
圣安东尼奥在全明星周末后以3.5个胜场落后于西部联盟的国王。因此，虽然福克斯的回归将成为萨克拉门托的讨论话题，但这与马刺队在春天临近时开始感受到的绝望相比，就显得微不足道了。圣安东尼奥希望为季后赛发起真正的冲击，这就是为什么他们在休赛期引进了克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul)，现在又引进了福克斯。期待福克斯拿出充满活力的表现，他于2017年被国王队选中，整个职业生涯都在为这支球队效力，但他一直不愿长期效力于萨克拉门托，并在交易截止日当周被交易到马刺队。– 莱特
MVP之争
丹佛掘金队 对阵 俄克拉荷马城雷霆队 (3月9日，美国东部时间下午1点，ABC/ESPN+，3月10日，美国东部时间晚上8点)
这是谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)领衔的雷霆队和尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokic)领衔的掘金队之间背靠背比赛的首战。这些比赛会影响MVP的争夺吗？当然。但或许更引人入胜的是，这场“棒球系列赛”是西部决赛的潜在预演，将夺冠热门球队与雷霆队在西部最大的挑战者（一支最近的冠军球队）进行对决。当雷霆队总经理萨姆·普雷斯蒂 (Sam Presti)在休赛期优先考虑加强阵容时，掘金队可能就是他脑海中的球队之一，他在自由球员市场上引诱哈尔滕施泰因加盟，以补充7尺长人霍姆格伦。– MacMahon
NBA总决赛预演？
俄克拉荷马城雷霆队 对阵 波士顿凯尔特人队 (3月12日，美国东部时间晚上7:30，ESPN)
凯尔特人队在积分榜上仍然落后于东部领先的骑士队，但波士顿和俄克拉荷马城仍然是被普遍认为会在NBA总决赛中相遇的两支球队。
虽然两支球队在交易截止日都没有进行重大升级，但霍姆格伦在1月初的上次交锋中并没有发挥作用，当时雷霆队凭借第四节的统治性表现完成了逆转。
如果这两支球队能够进入总决赛，看看他们以完整阵容交锋将会非常有趣，我们应该在三月中旬就能提前一睹风采。– Bontemps
拉文和德罗赞联手对抗公牛
芝加哥公牛队 对阵 萨克拉门托国王队 (3月20日，美国东部时间晚上10点)
在交易截止日前，公牛队和拉文之间的分手在持续了一年多之后终于结束。在芝加哥合作了三个赛季后，拉文回到萨克拉门托与德马尔·德罗赞 (DeMar DeRozan)并肩作战。与此同时，公牛队将尝试重建，摆脱他们认为拉文给球队阵容带来的限制（在球场上以及因为他的顶薪合同）。目前，双方都很高兴，并且在友好的气氛中分手，这应该会让重逢的气氛更加融洽。但是，拉文和公牛队都会有动力证明，没有对方，他们会更好。– Collier
吉米·巴特勒重返305区
金州勇士队 对阵 迈阿密热火队 (3月25日，美国东部时间晚上7:30)
在被热火队交易到勇士队后，巴特勒第一次接受媒体采访时，他明确表达了自己对加盟勇士队并离开迈阿密的感受。他多次谈到自己非常高兴能够加入一支想要他的球队，再次在球场上感受到快乐，并且能够按照自己的方式打球。可以肯定的是，当巴特勒重返迈阿密时，他会想要提醒热火队，当他充满动力和快乐时，他会是什么样子。对于勇士队来说，巴特勒已经成为了“改变球队格局的人”，正如德雷蒙德·格林 (Draymond Green)所说的那样。在他为新球队效力的仅仅四场比赛中，他场均得到21.3分和5.3次助攻。– Ohm Youngmisuk
最佳赌注
常规赛还剩下30场比赛，在个人奖项和球队未来方面，有哪些最佳赌注可以下呢？
洛杉矶湖人队赢得西部冠军 (+700)
东契奇和勒布朗·詹姆斯为湖人队提供了两名精英级别的进攻创造者，为队友提供了更多的得分机会，包括奥斯汀·里夫斯 (Austin Reaves)和八村塁 (Rui Hachimura)。虽然湖人队在中锋位置上存在疑问，但他们通过首发一套拥有四名大前锋身材的阵容（包括詹姆斯和东契奇）来缓解这个问题，这可以帮助他们在打小球时也能在篮板球方面保持优势。– Andre Snellings
金州勇士队赢得西部冠军 (+1800)
新加入的巴特勒看起来确实很适合勇士队，而且年轻的乔纳森·库明加 (Jonathan Kuminga)也将很快从伤病中恢复。如果斯蒂芬·库里 (Stephen Curry)、德雷蒙德和新勇士队能够在合适的时机进入状态，并让雷霆队或掘金队大吃一惊，这会令人震惊吗？– Eric Karabell
俄克拉荷马城雷霆队赢得总冠军 (+230)
我在赛季开始前就选择了雷霆队赢得总冠军，他们完全没有辜负人们的期望，取得了44胜10负的战绩，与骑士队并列联盟最佳战绩。他们很年轻，并且拥有谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大和杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams)这两名NBA最佳球员，我根本看不到有任何球队能够在七场系列赛中击败他们。– Steve Alexander
常规赛剩余比赛的更多最佳赌注
值得关注的关键季后赛席位争夺战
东部联盟
在实力强大的东部联盟中，只有六支球队的战绩是胜多负少——其中一支是底特律活塞队，他们自2008年以来就没有赢过一场季后赛。如果活塞队能够保持在前六名，他们将确保获得一个自动晋级季后赛的名额，并可能避免在第一轮面对头号种子骑士队或二号种子凯尔特人队。
虽然前六名的球队似乎状态良好，能够保持在附加赛球队之前，但在他们身后，各支球队的排名变化潜力更大，因为一群实力平庸的球队正在为位置而战。在经历了漫长的低迷之后，奥兰多魔术队在交易截止日没有任何动作，而老鹰队、热火队和公牛队都放走了著名球星——但他们在全明星周末后仍然占据着附加赛席位。即使是公牛队，他们的战绩预计为33胜49负，仍然以两个胜场的优势领先于饱受伤病困扰的费城76人队和半摆烂的布鲁克林篮网队，排名第10。
这为费城提供了晋级季后赛的机会，并试图挽救对乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid)和他的队友们来说是糟糕的一个赛季。但是，76人队已经遭遇了五连败，无论他们获得多少次机会，他们已经没有足够的时间来扭转局面。由于所有球队的胜率都低于50%，东部的附加赛争夺战看起来更像是一场艰苦的跋涉，而不是一场冲刺。– Zach Kram
西部联盟
雷霆队几乎肯定会以西部最佳战绩结束常规赛，但西部联盟的其他季后赛席位仍然悬而未决。灰熊队、掘金队、火箭队和湖人队之间的胜场差只有三场，他们争夺着西部第二到第五的排名，这意味着他们将面临在季后赛前两轮拥有主场优势或完全没有主场优势的区别。快船队、森林狼队、独行侠队、国王队和勇士队之间的胜场差只有3.5场，他们争夺着第六到第十的位置，而太阳队则紧随其后，排名第11。
在如此拥挤的竞争中，每一场胜利都至关重要，而西部对手之间的一个关键区别是他们剩余赛程的强度：森林狼队和金州勇士队的赛程最为轻松，而太阳队和国王队则必须在赛季末面对一系列残酷的对手。独行侠队的赛程比较轻松，但他们必须在所有受伤的中锋缺席的情况下生存下来，才能留在季后赛的争夺行列中。由于有11支球队争夺仅仅8个季后赛名额，多支拥有冠军希望的球队注定会错过季后赛。
这些戏剧性的 stakes 为本赛季剩余时间里几乎每晚的关键比赛奠定了基础。看看NBA回归后的第一个周末：森林狼队对阵火箭队，勇士队对阵国王队（周五）；湖人队对阵掘金队（周六）；独行侠队对阵勇士队（周日）。这些比赛中的每一场都有可能改变积分榜上的一个重要位置。– Kram
点击查看原文：NBA viewers guide: Biggest matchups, storylines and playoff pushes to watch
NBA viewers guide: Biggest matchups, storylines and playoff pushes to watch
Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” became a huge hit for its dramatic storytelling in Formula 1’s midfield, focusing on the teams not involved in the championship chase but under high pressure with huge financial stakes and major names involved.
You could do a similar documentary on the second half of this NBA season – and, not coincidentally, Netflix is filming one with several big-name players on “midfield” teams such as Kevin Durant and James Harden – because the drama is high with the teams fighting to get out of the middle.
Just look at who made the massive moves at the trade deadline. You would not say moves such as the Golden State Warriors getting Jimmy Butler, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers dealing Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis, or the Sacramento Kings swapping De’Aaron Fox for Zach LaVine represent teams that were satisfied with their current situations. All of them are in the middle of the pack, expensive and not happy about it.
The teams at the front in both conferences, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder, are likely to stay there until the postseason tests their legitimacy. The championship-holding teams behind them, the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets, are in this for the long haul and will be in a position to make another run.
But that midfield, well, that’s where the action is going to be. There are a lot of reputations, contract extensions and jobs on the line over the next two months. There simply isn’t enough room at the all-in stage in this zero-sum game. And you’re going to see the pressure, and the desperation, really show up.
So which matchups should you keep your eye on? We put together a viewers guide for the past few months of the regular season, including trade deadline reunions and potential playoff races to watch. – Brian Windhorst
Middleton back against the Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks at Washington Wizards (Feb. 21, 7 p.m. ET)
Before the Bucks traded him to Washington ahead of the trade deadline earlier this month, Khris Middleton had been with Milwaukee since 2013-14, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rookie season. Bucks general manager Jon Horst called the trade the toughest move of his career. It represented the end of an era for a franchise icon who had been slowed by injuries this season. But acquiring Kyle Kuzma in the deal is another effort by Milwaukee to keep extending its championship window during Antetokounmpo’s prime. Time will tell whether the Bucks made the right gamble, but Middleton will have an opportunity to play against his 2020-21 championship teammates right away after the All-Star break. – Jamal Collier
AD, LeBron reunite, and Luka returns to Dallas
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers (Feb. 25, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Less than a month after Davis and Dončić were traded for each other, the Mavericks head to Los Angeles for a game that will lose a lot of its luster if Davis is out. The big man aggravated a left adductor injury in his Dallas debut after showing out with 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks and has been sidelined since. Lakers fans will surely welcome him back with raucous applause, remembering him for his key contributions to the 2019-20 championship, but it just won’t be as impactful if he’s not in uniform and playing against his former teammates. Max Christie, however, will also be making his return and could see some time defending Dončić, which should cause conflicting emotions from Lakers fans who embraced Christie while he developed in L.A. – Dave McMenamin
Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks (April 9, 7:30 ET, ESPN)
This is certainly going to be one of the most surreal scenes we’ve seen in the league’s recent memory. The Mavericks’ fan base will still be mourning the loss of Dončić in one of the most shocking trades in NBA history. It’s a solid bet that the vast majority of people in attendance, even longtime Dallas fans, will be hoping to see an epic revenge performance from both sides. The tribute video for Dončić, assuming there is one, will be an all-time awkward event as the fans haven’t seen him play in a Mavericks jersey since he got hurt on Christmas Day. – Tim MacMahon
Eastern Conference finals matchup?
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (Feb 28, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
After losing at home to the Celtics right before the NBA’s trade deadline earlier this month, the Cavaliers made a bold move to get De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks for a package including Caris LeVert and Georges Niang. Cleveland easily could have stood pat amid its outstanding regular season, but getting a bigger wing to go up against Celtics frontmen Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was proof the Cavaliers have big ambitions. This game will be the first chance to see what Hunter can do in what easily could be the Eastern Conference finals matchup this spring. – Tim Bontemps
Chet vs. Wemby, Part 2
Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (March 2, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
This matchup marks the fifth regular-season meeting between Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, and the former owns a 3-1 head-to-head record.
When these 7-footers clashed back in October, Wembanyama scored a season-low six points, marking the only time he has been limited to single digits in 2024-25. Wembanyama’s lone win in this matchup came last February, and although his supporting cast has improved through the Fox trade, the Spurs still don’t have OKC’s full power.
Expect a tall order for Wembanyama as he’ll have to contain Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (who missed the first game because of a hand injury) for this clash. – Michael C. Wright
Fox returns to Sacramento
San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings (March 7, 10 p.m. ET)
San Antonio emerged from the All-Star break sitting 3½ games behind the Kings in the Western Conference standings. So, while Fox’s return will be a topic of discussion in Sacramento, it pales in comparison to the desperation the Spurs are starting to feel as spring approaches. San Antonio wants to make a real push for the postseason, which is why it brought in Chris Paul in the offseason and now Fox. Expect a spirited effort from Fox, who was drafted in 2017 by the Kings and spent his entire career playing for that franchise but had not shown a willingness to commit long term to Sacramento and was traded to the Spurs the week of the trade deadline. – Wright
MVP Clash
Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (March 9, 1 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+, March 10, 8 p.m. ET)
This is the opener of a back-to-back between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder and Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets. Could those games factor into the MVP battle? Sure. But perhaps more intriguing is that this baseball series is a potential West finals preview, pitting the heavy favorites against a recent champion that is arguably the Thunder’s biggest challenger in the conference. The Nuggets were probably one of the teams in Sam Presti’s mind when the Thunder GM prioritized beefing up the roster over the offseason, wooing Hartenstein in free agency to complement fellow 7-footer Holmgren. – MacMahon
NBA Finals preview?
Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics (March 12, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The Celtics are still behind the East-leading Cavaliers in the standings, but Boston and Oklahoma City remain the consensus favorites to face each other in the NBA Finals.
And while both teams didn’t make any major upgrades at the trade deadline, Holmgren didn’t factor into the last matchup in early January when the Thunder pulled off a come-from-behind victory with a dominant fourth quarter.
If these two teams make it to the Finals, it’ll be interesting to see them face off at full strength, and we should get a sneak peek of that in mid-March. – Bontemps
LaVine and DeRozan team up against Bulls
Chicago Bulls at Sacramento Kings (March 20, 10 p.m. ET)
The breakup between the Bulls and LaVine was drawn out for more than a year before finally concluding ahead of the trade deadline. LaVine is back playing with DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento after three seasons together in Chicago. Meanwhile, the Bulls will attempt to rebuild without the limitations they believed LaVine created for their roster (on the floor and because of his maximum salary). For now, both sides are happy and parted on good terms, which should make the reunion cordial. But LaVine and the Bulls are going to be motivated to prove themselves better off without the other. – Collier
The return of Jimmy Butler to the 305
Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat (March 25, 7:30 p.m. ET)
When Butler met with the media for the first time after his trade from the Heat, he made it abundantly clear how he felt to be on the Warriors and out of Miami. He repeatedly talked about how happy he was to be with a team that wanted him, about having joy again on the court and about being able to play his game. It’s a good bet that when Butler returns to Miami, he will want to remind the Heat of what he looks like when he’s motivated and happy. For the Warriors, Butler has been “a franchise changer,” as Draymond Green put it. In just four games with his new team, he’s averaging 21.3 points and 5.3 assists. – Ohm Youngmisuk
Best bets
With 30 games left to play in the regular season, what are the best bets to make on award races and team-oriented futures?
Los Angeles Lakers to win Western Conference (+700)
Dončić and LeBron James give the Lakers two elite offense creators, providing teammates more opportunities to produce, including Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. While the Lakers have question marks in the middle, they mitigate that by starting a lineup featuring four players with power forward size (including James and Dončić) that can help them remain strong on the glass even when they play small ball. – Andre Snellings
Golden State Warriors to win Western Conference (+1800)
Newcomer Butler sure looks good as a Warrior, and the franchise gets young Jonathan Kuminga back from injury soon. Would it be so shocking if Curry, Draymond and the new Warriors got hot at the right time and shocked the Thunder or Nuggets? – Eric Karabell
Oklahoma City Thunder to win the championship (+230)
I picked the Thunder to win it all before the season started, and they’ve completely lived up to the hype, going 44-10, tying the Cavaliers for the best record in the league. They’re young and have two of the NBA’s best players with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, and I simply don’t see anyone beating them in a seven-game series. – Steve Alexander
More best bets for the rest of the regular season
Key playoff races to watch
Eastern Conference
Only six teams in the top-heavy Eastern Conference have winning records – and one of them is Detroit, which hasn’t won a playoff game since 2008. Staying in the top six would clinch an automatic playoff berth for Cade Cunningham’s Pistons and likely allow them to avoid facing the top-seeded Cavaliers or second-seeded Celtics in the first round.
But while the top six teams appear to be in solid shape to stay ahead of the play-in pack, there’s more potential for movement behind them in the standings, as a group of middling-at-best squads jostle for position. Amid a lengthy slump, the Orlando Magic didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline, while the Hawks, Heat and Bulls moved on from notable stars – but they’re all still in play-in spots as they exit the All-Star break. Even the Bulls, who are on pace for a 33-49 record, remain two games ahead of the injury-ravaged Philadelphia 76ers and semi-tanking Brooklyn Nets for the 10th seed.
That opens a door for Philadelphia to qualify for the postseason and attempt to salvage what has been a down season for Joel Embiid & Co. But the 76ers have lost five games in a row and are running out of time to turn things around, no matter how many second (and third, and fourth) chances they get. With all the sub-.500 teams involved, the East’s play-in race looks more like a slog than a sprint. – Zach Kram
Western Conference
The Thunder are practically guaranteed to finish with the West’s best record, but the conference’s other playoff seeds are up for grabs. Only three games separate the Grizzlies, Nuggets, Rockets and Lakers for the Nos. 2-5 seeds, which means the difference between home-court advantage in the first two rounds and no home court at all. And only 3½ games separate the Clippers, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Kings and Warriors for spots Nos. 6-10, with the Suns lurking close behind in 11th place.
Every win counts in such a crowded race, and one key difference between the conference rivals is their remaining strength of schedule: Minnesota and Golden State have the easiest slates, while the Suns and Kings must battle a brutal set of opponents down the stretch. The Mavericks have an easier schedule but must survive the absence of all their injured centers to remain in the playoff hunt. With 11 teams battling for just eight playoff berths, multiple teams with championship aspirations are guaranteed to miss the postseason.
Those dramatic stakes set the stage for crucial games almost every night for the rest of the season. Just look at the NBA’s first weekend back in action: Timberwolves-Rockets and Warriors-Kings on Friday; Lakers-Nuggets on Saturday; and Mavericks-Warriors on Sunday. Every one of those games has the potential to flip an important spot in the standings. – Kram
By NBA insiders | ESPN, via ESPN