We realize we sound like a broken record at this point, but the playoff race in the NBA’s Eastern Conference is extremely tight.
The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets all have been jockeying for position over the last month or so, with each team flipping between the third and sixth seeds almost on a nightly basis.
Yet the four teams somehow managed to bunch even closer this week, as Monday morning finds the No. 3 seed Hawks and the No. 6 seed Hornets separated by a minuscule half-game.
That’s not the only drama playing out across the league, though, as both conferences have tight races for the eighth and final playoff spots as we approach one week to play in the regular season.
Find out where everyone stands in our Week 24 NBA Power Rankings, which account for all games played through Sunday, April 3.
1. Golden State Warriors (69-8): The Warriors’ NBA-record 54-game home winning streak is over, thanks to the efforts of a scrappy Celtics squad. But the league’s best record ever still can be obtained with wins in four of their last five games. Last week: 1
2. San Antonio Spurs (64-12): While Golden State was having its sneak snapped, the Spurs quietly clinched their best season in franchise history this week. They’re also a perfect 39-0 at home with two home games remaining against Oklahoma City and Golden State. Last week: 2
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (55-22): The Cavs extended their lead on the No. 2 seed Raptors to three and a half games with three consecutive wins this week, and their magic number to clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs is three. That’s a lot of threes. Last week: 3
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (53-24): Despite coming back to Earth with losses to the Pistons and Rockets this week, the Thunder need one more win or one more Clippers loss to clinch the West’s No. 3 seed. Last week: 4
5. Toronto Raptors (51-25): It would take a minor miracle for Toronto to catch the Cavs for the East’s top seed. With their No. 2 seed already sewn up, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Raptors rest some players down the stretch. Last week: 5
6. Los Angeles Clippers (48-28): The Clippers’ goal in their final six games should be to shake off the rust of Blake Griffin, who scored just six points Sunday in his first game action since Christmas. Last week: 6
7. Atlanta Hawks (45-32): The Hawks allowed the bunched-up East to keep pace this week by dropping a pair of close ones to the Cavs and Raptors. Last week: 7
8. Boston Celtics (45-32): The Celtics finished their West Coast swing on a high note, toppling the mighty Warriors on Friday and surviving the Lakers on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth. Last week: 8
9. Miami Heat (44-32): Miami didn’t exactly seize its opportunity this week, losing to the lowly Lakers on Wednesday and falling to the Blazers on Saturday to stay mired in the middle of the East’s playoff race. Last week: 9
10. Charlotte Hornets (44-32): The last two weeks are going to be wild for this quartet, as the Hawks, Celtics, Heat and Hornets enter Monday separated by just half a game. Last week: 10
11. Indiana Pacers (41-36): Indiana isn’t exactly playing inspired basketball, but wins over the Sixers and Knicks this week allowed the club to hang on to the East’s No. 7 seed. Last week: 12
12. Detroit Pistons (41-36): The Pistons notched a critical win over the Bulls on Saturday to put two games between themselves and Chicago for the East’s final playoff spot. Last week: 13
13. Memphis Grizzlies (41-36): The banged-up Grizzlies are in a complete free-fall and now have lost six in a row. The Blazers are hot on Memphis’ heels and appeared poised to overtake the club for the No. 5 seed. Last week: 11
14. Portland Trail Blazers (41-37): See above. Three of Portland’s final four games are against non-playoff teams (Kings, Timberwolves and Nuggets), and if the Blazers take care of business, they can avoid a first-round playoff date with the Thunder. Last week: 14
15. Dallas Mavericks (39-38): The Mavs saved their playoff hopes this week with four consecutive wins to move into a tie for the West’s No. 8 seed. Key matchups against the Rockets and Jazz await down the stretch. Last week: 19
16. Utah Jazz (39-38): Utah will need to take down the Spurs and Clippers this week to keep pace with Dallas for the West’s final playoff spot. Last week: 16
17. Chicago Bulls (39-38): The Bulls still are within striking distance at two games behind the Pistons and Pacers and have won three of their last four. That said, we’re not getting our hopes up. Last week: 15
18. Houston Rockets (38-39): The Rockets somehow delivered in the clutch Sunday, knocking off the Thunder to remain within one game of the West’s No. 8 seed. Last week: 18
19. Washington Wizards (37-40): The Wizards are one loss away from missing the postseason after dropping a tough one to the Clippers on Sunday. It’s just not their year. Last week: 17
20. Orlando Magic (33-44): All the Magic can do now is play spoiler, and they happily obliged this week by taking down the Pacers and Grizzlies as both clubs fight for their playoff lives. Last week: 21
21. Milwaukee Bucks (32-45): Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker continue to be bright spots in Milwaukee’s otherwise dismal season. Last week: 22
22. Denver Nuggets (32-46): The Nuggets are doing their best to get a better lottery pick by losing four of their last five. Last week: 20
23. Sacramento Kings (31-46): DeMarcus Cousins won’t play in Sacramento’s remaining road games as the Kings close out a tumultuous season. Last week: 24
24. New York Knicks (31-47): New York essentially is pulling the plug on its season, as the Knicks rested Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis on Sunday. Last week: 23
25. New Orleans Pelicans (29-47): The Pelicans somehow have managed to win three of their last four despite the absence of Anthony Davis. Last week: 25
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-52): The Timberwolves have scored 85 points or less in each of their last three games. That’s not good, guys. Last week: 26
27. Brooklyn Nets (21-56): Brooklyn shut down Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young for the season Sunday and promptly lost to the Davis-less Pelicans by 19. We might have seen their last win this season. Last week: 27
28. Phoenix Suns (20-57): The Suns appear determined to end the season with a worse record than the Nets, as they’ve now lost six in a row. Last week: 28
29. Los Angeles Lakers (16-60): Kobe Bryant turned back the clock against the Celtics on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Lakers from picking up their 60th loss. Last week: 29
30. Philadelphia 76ers (9-68): The Sixers have won two games since the beginning of February. That’s bad. Last week: 30
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
