In the East, both the Cavaliers and Sixers beat lesser teams, keeping the pair knotted at 30 losses and effectively tied for No. 3. The Pacers, Wizards, Heat, and Bucks were all inactive, keeping everything else static for now. The Celtics won again — that’s five straight despite the injuries — but remain three back in the loss column to Toronto. That race for No. 1 only gets interesting if the Raptors hit the skids, despite Boston’s run.
NBA playoff update: Chaos reigns in the West
The Grizzlies are spoiling everything.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Wizards, Heat, and Pacers all play bad teams Thursday. The Bucks play the Warriors, who will have Kevin Durant back. Here’s the current bracket.
Raptors (1) vs. Bucks (8)
Sixers (4) vs. Pacers (5)
Cavaliers (3) vs. Wizards (6)
Celtics (2) vs. Heat (7)
In the West, Damian Lillard missed the Blazers’ game in Memphis due to the birth of his child. You’d think Portland could handle it, right? Nope. The Blazers lost to the Grizzlies, falling to 29 losses. That’s still two fewer than the Thunder, who were inactive. That head-to-head win on Sunday really was huge!
The Jazz also had a disappointing night, losing to the Celtics at home on a Jaylen Brown game-winner. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves and Clippers took care of business against tanking teams. Everyone else in the Western quagmire had the night off. Utah and Minnesota are now tied at 33 losses, and the No. 9 Clippers have 34. The Nuggets have 35. There are two spots for those four teams, assuming the Thunder (31 losses), Pelicans (32), and/or Spurs (32) don’t slide. Are you nervous? I’m nervous.
There’s just one big battle in the West on Thursday: Thunder vs. Spurs. An OKC win sends San Antonio down into a virtual tie for the last three spots with the Jazz and Wolves, just one loss ahead of the No. 9 seed. A Spurs’ win leaves the Thunder tied with San Antonio and New Orleans in the loss column, just two losses ahead of the No. 9 seed. Chaos reigns either way! We can’t lose.
Here’s the current bracket.
Rockets (1) vs. Jazz (8)
Thunder (4) vs. Pelicans (5)
Blazers (3) vs. Spurs (6)
Warriors (2) vs. Timberwolves (7)
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