There is a full slate of 15 NBA games on Friday with NBA Playoff scenarios pretty much clear across the board.
The disappointing Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns are among those who could be relegated to taking part in next week’s NBA Play-In Tournament rather than preparing for the playoffs altogether.
A whole heck of a lot is on the line in both conferences. We’re talking about seeding for the playoffs and teams attempting to avoid the aforementioned play-in.
Remember, there are only three days remaining in the regular season. Everything is pretty much on the line for multiple teams around the association.
Related: NBA Playoff and Finals predictions
Philadelphia 76ers will have to settle for NBA Play-In Tournament spot with loss
Philadelphia heads into Friday’s home date with the upstart Orlando Magic at 45-35 on the season and as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. It is one game behind both Orlando and the Indiana Pacers in an attempt to avoid the play-in. However, the 76ers lose the tiebreaker to both teams with just two games remaining.
With Joel Embiid back after missing 29 games due to a torn meniscus in his knee, the hope is that Philadelphia can make a postseason run. For his part, the reigning NBA MVP wants to play more over the final two games as a tune-up for the postseason.
“Playing as many minutes as possible,” Embiid said when asked what his goal was for the final two regular season games, via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “The next one, I hope the game’s not close, but if it is, to go over that 35-minute mark. Try and get to 40 and then the last game of the season, same thing.”
Related: Latest Philadelphia 76ers news and rumors here
Eastern Conference playoff standings, scenarios and NBA Play-In Tournament
- Boston Celtics: 62-18
- Milwaukee Bucks: 49-31
- New York Knicks: 48-32
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 47-33
- Orlando Magic: 46-34
- Indiana Pacers: 46-34
- Philadelphia 76ers: 45-35
- Miami Heat: 44-36
- Chicago Bulls: 38-42
- Atlanta Hawks: 36-34
– The Celtics, Bucks and Knicks have all clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs. Boston has clinched the No. 2 seed. Milwaukee and New York are battling it out for the second spot.
– The Bulls and Hawks are locked in to do battle in a do-or-die play-in game next week as the ninth and 10th seeds.
– The Cavaliers can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Pacers or a Philadelphia 76ers loss to Orlando.
– Indiana can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Cleveland or a Philadelphia loss.
– The Heat will be locked into a play-in spot with a loss to the Toronto Raptors or an Orlando over Philadelphia.
– Orlando clinches a playoff spot with a win over Philadelphia.
Related: Updated NBA power rankings
Western Conference playoff standings, scenarios and NBA Play-In Tournament
- Denver Nuggets: 56-24
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 55-25
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 55-25
- Los Angeles Clippers: 51-29
- Dallas Mavericks: 50-30
- New Orleans Pelicans: 48-32
- Phoenix Suns: 47-33
- Sacramento Kings: 45-35
- Golden State Warriors: 45-35
- Los Angeles Lakers: 45-35
– The Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder, Clippers and Mavericks have all clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs out west. They are all just battling for seeding.
– The Clippers and Mavericks are already guaranteed to play in the first round. Who has home-court advantage will be decided over the next few days.
– The Kings, Warriors and Lakers are all guaranteed to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Seeding will be decided over the next few days.
– New Orleans clinches a playoff spot with a win over the Golden State Warriors and a Suns loss to the Sacramento Kings.
– Phoenix is relegated to the play-in tournament with a Pelicans win over the Warriors and a loss to the Kings.
NBA Play-In Matchups heading into Friday’s action
Eastern Conference: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls
Western Conference: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns