NBA Playoff Standings 2018: Updated Bracket, Matchups That Will Change Picture
As the end of the NBA regular season draws near, the playoff bracket is beginning to take shape.
The Eastern Conference is basically set, save for the seventh and eighth spots. It looks like the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks have punched their tickets, but the Detroit Pistons still have an outside shot.
The Western Conference is another story altogether. Outside of the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trailblazers, the final five spots are up for grabs and it's a close race between seven teams.
As for a Finals rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Warriors, well, that's not a guarantee this year with the combination of injuries and other teams like Houston, Toronto and Boston stepping up.
NBA Playoff Standings
Eastern Conference
x-1. Toronto Raptors (55-21) .724
x-2. Boston Celtics (53-23) .697
x-3. Cleveland Cavaliers (47-30) .610
x-4. Philadelphia 76ers (46-30) .605
x-5. Indiana Pacers (46-31) .597
x-6. Washington Wizards (42-35) .545
7. Miami Heat (41-36) .532
8. Milwaukee Bucks (41-36) .532
9. Detroit Pistons (37-40) .481
Western Conference
z-1. Houston Rockets (62-15) .805
y-2. Golden State Warriors (56-21) .727
x-3. Portland Trail Blazers (48-29) .623
4. San Antonio Spurs (45-32) .584
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (45-33) .577
6. Utah Jazz (44-33) .571
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (44-34) .564
8. New Orleans Pelicans (43-34) .558
9. Denver Nuggets (42-35) .545
10. LA Clippers (41-36) .532
Matchups That Will Change the Playoff Picture
Cavaliers at 76ers (Friday, 7 p.m. ET)
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers are vying for the third and fourth spots in the Eastern Conference standings, respectively.
That might not seem like much, but it's the difference between facing the Wizards or the Pacers in the first round.
And for Cleveland, that could potentially mean a second-round matchup with the first-place Raptors, who are definitely out to avenge getting swept by the Cavs in the semifinals in 2017.
Right now, Cleveland owns a 2-1 season series lead over Philadelphia, but the latter is on a roll, winning 10 straight behind the brilliant play of Ben Simmons.
And the last time these two teams met, the Sixers ended the Cavs 11-game domination of their squad with a 108-97 victory at the Q.
But that win featured the recently injured Joel Embiid, who finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
Without Embiid, it'll be left to Simmons, who's playing out of his mind as a rookie, to take up the slack.
LeBron James is playing out of his mind, too, which means that while the city of Philly is on a role with the Eagles and now Villanova, they will come up short this go-round.
Nuggets at Clippers (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are fighting for their playoff lives.
Right now, they are ninth and tenth in the Western Conference standings, respectively.
While Denver is on a roll, winning its last two games, Los Angeles is seemingly coming apart at the seams, losing its last two.
If the Nuggets win, they could pull even with the Pelicans and possibly take over the eighth spot by season's end. Every game matters for them now, and Nikola Jokic continues to be the best player you've never heard of.
If the Clippers win, they would be tied for ninth, keeping their postseason hopes alive.
That being said, Los Angeles overcame a 19-point deficit to beat Denver 122-120 on Feb. 27 at the Pepsi Center behind Lou Williams' 25 points.
The Nuggets are on the rise, though, behind the play of Jokic and the recently activated Paul Millsap. Together, with the burgeoning guard play of Jamal Murray and Gary Harris, they'll ensure that Denver is in prime position to play after April 11.
Nuggets at Timberwolves (April 11, 8 p.m. ET)
The Nuggets face the Minnesota Timberwolves on the last day of the regular season, just six days after facing them at home.
If the Nuggets take care of their business and win the game versus Minnesota before this matchup, they could be in a position not only to make the playoffs but also to take over the seventh spot.
But that in itself is a "pick your poison" situation. The eighth spot faces the Rockets, while the seventh spot faces the Warriors.
The last time these two squads squared up, Jimmy Butler scored a season-high 39 points to help the 'Wolves rally for a 128-125 win over the Nuggets in overtime.
Butler has been out since February, with a knee injury, but miraculously could be back in time for this game.
"It's him being ready to go," head coach Tom Thibodeau told Kent Youngblood of the Star-Tribune. "I want him to have confidence in his body that he can go again. So, usually, what happens is you're doing the on-court stuff. You start with non-contact. Then you phase in the contact and you build up. You start with one-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-three and then the five-on-five. And, after each step, you have to see how it responds that next day. So far it's been pretty good."
As good as it is to hear that Jimmy Buckets could return to action, it's likely that he'll be rusty and may not have the impact he had in their last meeting.
Look for Denver to win this one and shake up the bottom rankings in the West.
