There will be just one NBA game on national TV on Saturday, but three teams are fighting for their playoff lives in compelling action around the league. That includes one of the teams in that ESPN game: the Phoenix Suns, who will face the San Antonio Spurs (9 p.m. ET). The Suns are one game out of the No. 8 seed in the West.
Enormous Consequences: Jazz, Suns And Bucks Gasping For Life
The Utah Jazz are in a similar boat, facing the Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET). The Jazz are a half-game behind the Suns, so a loss on Saturday would be particularly damaging. The two teams that the Suns and Jazz are most closely chasing -- the Rockets and Nuggets -- are idle on Saturday.
The East’s last hopeful has a big test on Saturday, too.
The Milwaukee Bucks, who trail the Philadelphia 76ers by two games for the No. 8 seed in the East, need to beat the Indiana Pacers (8:30 p.m. ET) to keep the dream alive. Milwaukee blew out the Pistons on Friday, and the 76ers were stunned by the Nets. The Bucks face a tough test in Indiana, but have a good opportunity to keep the pressure on Philly.
The L.A. Clippers and Boston Celtics are also in action Saturday, with seeding implications galore. The Clips face the Warriors (3:30 p.m. ET) and the Celtics visit the Nets (7:30 p.m. ET). The Oklahoma City Thunder lead the race for the West's No. 1 seed by one game over the Spurs, and face the the Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET).
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