Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Eight games that will swing the NBA playoff race this week

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Sunday, 09 August 2020 22:49

Entering the final week of seeding games in the NBA restart, teams have only a few more opportunities to improve their place in the standings.

There are still four teams pushing for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs, and it's now guaranteed that there will be a play-in series. There won't be a play-in series in the East, but seeding and matchups are still up for grabs.

To help get your ready for this stretch run, our NBA experts highlight the eight most important games that will decide the playoff picture this week in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Note: The West play-in series will feature the conference's No. 8 and No. 9 seeds on Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC). If the No. 8 seed wins, that team will advance to Round 1 to face the Los Angeles Lakers. If the No. 9 seed wins, there will be another game on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and the winner of that matchup will get the final playoff spot.

MORE: Latest NBA standings


Monday and Friday: Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat

  • Monday: 8 p.m. ET

  • Friday: Details TBD

Two matchups between Indiana and Miami this week will go a long way toward determining whether they play each other again during the first round of the playoffs. With the 76ers' loss Sunday, both teams are a game up on the Sixers and also own head-to-head tiebreakers. The Pacers and Heat won't want to fall to sixth, which would instead mean a matchup with the Boston Celtics.

Jimmy Butler has no doubt had this rematch in mind since an altercation with T.J. Warren in January that led to the ejection of Warren, the bubble's leading scorer at 34.8 points per game. -- Kevin Pelton


Tuesday: Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers

  • Details: 6:30 p.m. ET | TNT

Every game is of paramount importance to Portland, as the Trail Blazers try to emerge from a pack of teams scrapping for the West's final playoff bid.

The Mavs are all but locked into the West's seventh seed, so the outcome of this game won't matter as much to them. However, Dallas does want to build momentum off of Saturday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis will have fresh legs after resting Monday against the Utah Jazz. -- Tim MacMahon


Tuesday: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Phoenix Suns

  • Details: 4:30 p.m. ET

The darlings of the bubble, the Suns have started off 5-0 in Florida to draw within a game of Portland for the No. 9 spot in the West and can nearly taste the franchise's first postseason experience since 2010. Catching Portland would earn Phoenix a spot in the play-in series and the opportunity for a first-round series against the Lakers.

Their opponent in Philadelphia was faring well in the restart before losing Ben Simmons to a knee injury, and he's unlikely to return following surgery. Things got worse on Sunday when Joel Embiid left an eventual loss to Portland after hurting his ankle. Embiid's status for this game remains unknown. -- Dave McMenamin


Wednesday: Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers

  • Details: 6:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

This game won't mean much for the Raptors, already the No. 2 seed in the East, but it could have major seeding implications for the 76ers as they try to move up into the 4/5 matchup.

Then there is the pure basketball importance, as Philadelphia needs every moment it can get on the court together as a team to figure out how to proceed without Simmons. -- Tim Bontemps


Thursday: Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers

  • Details: TBD

Portland's margin of error is small, and with a play-in berth potentially at stake, it will expect to win a game like this where it enters as a clear favorite.

It's a lock there will be a play-in game for the 8-seed in the West, but despite their positive bubble start, right now the Blazers are far from a sure thing to participate in it. -- Royce Young


Thursday: Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns

  • Details: TBD

The hottest team in basketball -- as of Sunday -- matching up with Luka Doncic would appear to be one of the best games in the bubble, but a lot of dominoes may fall between now and then that could alter this game's appearance. Devin Booker and the Suns have to keep winning and likely will need this game to vault themselves into the play-in fray.

All signs point to the Mavs being locked into the seventh seed, thus giving coach Rick Carlisle the opportunity to rest Doncic before the playoffs begin if he so desires. In short, this game has a chance to mean everything to the Suns and nothing to the Mavs. -- Nick Friedell


Friday: Houston Rockets vs. Philadelphia 76ers

  • Details: TBD

Initially, this game had the makings of a big showdown with seed-positioning ramifications on the line. But for the Sixers, health is far more important now. Perhaps they can still play their way into the 4/5 matchup and avoid a first-round meeting with Boston, but Embiid's health is the priority.

The Rockets could have more at stake. They're trying to stave off Oklahoma City and Utah -- both potential first-round opponents -- for the fourth seed but could have a shot at No. 3 depending on how Denver does this week. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

MORE: New predictions -- Which two teams will make the play-in?

Read 354 times

Soccer

Southampton vs Liverpool: Slot hails resilient win

Southampton vs Liverpool: Slot hails resilient win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool boss Arne Slot praised his team for mounting a second-hal...

Vini, Mbappé connect as Madrid ease past Leganés

Vini, Mbappé connect as Madrid ease past Leganés

Kylian Mbappé ended his goal drought with a thunderous strike and midfielder Jude Bellingham scored...

Marta, Orlando Pride win 1st NWSL Championship

Marta, Orlando Pride win 1st NWSL Championship

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Barbra Banda's goal stood up as the winner to l...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan -...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated