The Portland Trail Blazers kicked off the post-All-Star stretch with a 112-103 road win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday.
The win pulled the Blazers (24-33) a game back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
With 25 games remaining in the regular season, Portland is one of five teams -- along with the Denver Nuggets (25-32), Sacramento Kings (25-33), New Orleans Pelicans (23-35) and Dallas Mavericks (22-34) -- battling for the No. 8 seed, which likely means a first-round matchup with Golden State.
Of those 25 games: 14 are at home; 11 are on the road; five are on the second night of a back-to-back; and 10 are against teams currently above .500.
Here's a look at the remainder of the schedule:
February
Sunday 2/26 @ Toronto Raptors
Tuesday 2/28 @ Detroit Pistons
March
Thursday 3/2 vs. Oklahoma Akcebet City Thunder
Saturday 3/4 vs. Brooklyn Nets
Monday 3/6 @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Tuesday 3/7 @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Thursday 3/9 vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Saturday 3/11 vs. Washington Wizards
Sunday 3/12 @ Phoenix Suns
Tuesday 3/14 @ New Orleans Pelicans
Wednesday 3/15 @ San Antonio Spurs
Saturday 3/18 @ Atlanta Hawks
Sunday 3/19 @ Miami Heat
Tuesday 3/21 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Thursday 3/23 vs. New York Knicks
Saturday 3/25 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Sunday 3/26 @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday 3/28 vs. Denver Nuggets
Thursday 3/30 vs. Houston Rockets
April
Saturday 4/1 vs. Phoenix Suns
Tuesday 4/4 @ Utah Jazz
Thursday 4/6 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Saturday 4/8 vs. Utah Jazz
Monday 4/10 vs. San Antonio Spurs
Wednesday 4/12 vs. New Orleans Pelicans
So we ask you: Will the Blazers secure the final playoff spot in the Western Conference?
Bonus question: Do you want the Blazers to make the playoffs? Or try for the best lottery position possible? Tell us why or why not in the comments below.
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