The NBA regular season closes the curtain this weekend with two crazy days, in which there is a lot at stake: there are still 8 spots to be decided out of the 16 in the playoffs for the title. Except for the Clippers-Mavericks, the first defined tie, the rest of the fronts remain open and will be decided between this Friday night and Sunday. Leading the West or avoiding play-in in both Conferences are the great attractions.
In the East, only first place and the play-in match that pits ninth against tenth are decided. The Celtics, who have dominated the Conference with an iron fist, will be the team to beat in the playoffs after surpassing the 60-win barrier. On the other hand, Bulls and Hawks will face each other in a life or death match in Chicago, since whoever loses will be eliminated from the playoffs. However, the winner will face off away from home against the loser of the duel between seventh and eighth.
There are five teams in the fight to avoid the East play-in. The Miami Heat, eighth, have a remote chance of directly entering the playoffs, because they are two games behind the sixth, the Pacers. Those who do have the best chances are the Sixers, one match behind the Indiana team, especially after Embiid's return, since they have accumulated six consecutive wins. Tonight there is a key duel between Philadelphia and Orlando to decide who qualifies directly for the playoffs.
Precisely, the Magic are in fifth place, with the same victories as the Pacers and with only one more victory than the Sixers. A loss tonight against Philadelphia would complicate things for them, while a victory would mathematically put them in the playoffs. The Cavaliers, fourth, are virtually in the playoffs, as they lead the 76ers in two games. Even so, the Cavs can still storm into second place, which they have two wins away.
Beyond Cleveland, second place will be disputed by the Bucks and the Knicks. The loss of Antetokounmpo and the schedule (they must play against the Thunder and the Magic) can harm Milwaukee, who has been in second place all season. The Knicks, who are finally having an exciting campaign, have two affordable games ahead of them against the Nets and Bulls.
On the other hand, in the West, the fight is in the leadership, where Nuggets, Wolves and Thunder have options. Denver, with a simple schedule, against the Spurs and Grizzlies, seems to have sealed its lead after the victory against Minnesota. However, those from Minneapolis and Oklahoma have 55 wins. The Wolves' schedule is slightly more lenient, since they play against the Hawks and Suns, while the Thunder, on the other hand, against the Bucks and Mavs.
The fight for the play-in in the West is also on fire. The sixth place, the last one that gives direct access to the playoffs, will be disputed by the Pelicans, who currently hold it, with 48 wins, and the Suns, with one less victory. Those from New Orleans, with Zion in his best numbers, face two dangerous but unpredictable teams, such as the Warriors and the Lakers. Phoenix, for its part, faces the Kings and the Wolves.
The last big battle that remains at stake is to avoid the life-or-death play-in tie between ninth and tenth. Although finishing eighth doesn't seem like a big haul, it does allow you the chance to stumble once. Kings, Warriors and Lakers are all tied for wins (45), but Sacramento occupies eighth position thanks to average.
However, Mike Brown's men are in free fall, having accumulated four defeats in the last five games. The key game will be tonight, as they face the Suns. On the other hand, the Warriors, ninth, play against the Pelicans and Jazz, while the Lakers, against the Grizzlies and also against New Orleans.
Tonight and Sunday everything will be decided. Only Clippers, Mavericks and Celtics will be able to avoid experiencing a weekend of madness, in which the franchises that will compete in the play-in between April 16 and 19 will be decided and, in addition, we will know the first qualifying rounds, which will begin on 20. Two truly heart-stopping nights to close the curtain on the regular season.
