"The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team to clinch a postseason berth with a win on Sunday. Their lead over the San Antonio Spurs is just three games, however, as the standings in the always-competitive Western Conference are tighter than ever. With four games currently separating the play-in teams and the No. 3 seed, and with plenty of high-profile games on the calendar, the standings are bound to change."
"The defending champs are about to step into a high-profile four-game homestand with the Spurs, who are only two back in the loss column and are nipping at their heels for the top seed in the West. The Warriors are in Oklahoma City on ABC this Saturday night, giving the Thunder an appetizer before they face the Nuggets, Celtics and Timberwolves on Monday, Thursday and Sunday, all on national television."
"The last full week of March, during which the Pistons play the Lakers, Hawks, Pelicans and Timberwolves, could be critical on several fronts. With five games before it against the woeful Nets, Wizards and Grizzlies, the Pistons could truly solidify home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference."
The NBA regular season enters its final stretch with significant playoff implications still to be determined. The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the first postseason berth, but lead the San Antonio Spurs by only three games in a tightly contested Western Conference. The Eastern Conference features the Detroit Pistons as the top seed, though Jayson Tatum's potential return to the Boston Celtics could reshape the playoff landscape. High-profile matchups scheduled throughout the remaining six weeks will significantly impact final standings, with teams competing for playoff seeding and play-in positioning. NBA insiders have identified critical games for each team's remaining schedule that will determine final playoff outcomes.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]