Erling Haaland is set for a spell on the sideline with an ankle injury picked up against Bournemouth on Sunday, but Manchester City remain hopeful the striker will be able to play again this season and take part in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.

Haaland left the Vitality Stadium wearing a protective boot after injuring his ankle in City's 2-1 win in their FA Cup quarterfinal. The Norway international scored City's equalizer before going off in the 60th minute. His replacement, Omar Marmoush, scored the go-ahead goal to set up an FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest on April 26.

The 24-year-old will undergo further tests, but City are confident he will play again this season.

A statement issued by the club on Monday read: "Manchester City FC can confirm that Erling Haaland has suffered an injury to his left ankle.

"Erling underwent initial tests in Manchester on Monday morning and will now seek specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury.

"Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain a full prognosis. The expectation is that Erling will be fit in time to play a further part in the remainder of this season, including this summer's FIFA Club World Cup."

Haaland, who has scored 30 goals in 40 games this season, looks set to miss Leicester City's visit to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday and the trip to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola's team has nine Premier League games remaining as it battles to keep hold of a top-four spot. City sit fifth in the table, one point behind Chelsea and one ahead of Newcastle United.

They kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Moroccan side Wydad AC on June 18.

It's Monday, and another week of NWSL action is in the books, which means it's time for ESPN's Power Rankings.

Who's climbing the table? Who's in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 3 to come up with this week's order of all 14 teams in the league. Let's dive in.

1. Orlando Pride

Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Saturday, April 12 at Seattle Reign, 7:30 p.m. ET

It takes a certain degree of swagger to mis-hit your first penalty attempt off the post, then step back up after being handed a re-take (Wave players infringed on the box) and fire home a Panenka, but that's what Marta did on Saturday and it sealed a 2-1 win against San Diego. It also puts the Brazilian just one penalty goal short of Megan Rapinoe's NWSL record.

2. Kansas City Current

Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Saturday, April 12 at San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET

Playing at home, the Current pounced on Utah's mistakes and looked threatening in transition. Temwa Chawinga opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, matching one of her 2024 NWSL records by scoring in eight straight games (stretching back to last season). She scored again but it was called back by a handball in the play. Michelle Cooper and Debinha added two more before the half, and the Current walked away with a decisive 3-0 win over the Royals.

3. Washington Spirit

Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Saturday, April 12 at Racing Louisville, 5 p.m. ET

Days after being named to Emma Hayes' U.S. women's national team roster to play Brazil, Spirit striker Ashley Hatch scored a brace in Washington's 2-0 win against Bay FC. She scored both in the air just three minutes apart, moving into NWSL's top five goal scorers in regular season history. Getting the ball wide and dropping it on Hatch's head seems to be an effective game plan for the Spirit, and with Trinity Rodman back in the starting lineup, they're building some momentum.

4. Angel City FC

Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Saturday, April 12 at Houston Dash, 5 p.m. ET

Alyssa Thompson set the tone early for Angel City, scoring her second goal of the year in the eighth minute with a decisive strike from inside the box. Seattle equalized minutes later after a soft penalty call on Gisele Thompson, but Angel City rookie Riley Tiernan scored her first NWSL goal in the air to seal a 2-1 win against Seattle. The hosts were imperfect with their opportunities (taking 16 shots with five on target), but the momentum and chance generation was decisively theirs.

5. San Diego Wave FC

Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Saturday, April 12 vs. Kansas City Current, 10 p.m. ET

San Diego is brimming with exciting international talent -- Delphine Cascarino and Adriana Leon, to name just two -- but don't sleep on 19-year-old Nigeria youth international Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, who came off the bench to score San Diego's equalizing goal against Orlando, just 108 seconds into her NWSL debut. The visitors lost 2-1 after Marta scored from the penalty spot (on the second attempt), and while San Diego will regret giving up a silly penalty (then committing another error in encroaching in the box to allow for a re-take), the Wave gave the reigning champs their toughest test of the season.

6. Seattle Reign FC

Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Saturday, April 12 vs. Orlando Pride, 7:30 p.m. ET

After Seattle conceded an Alyssa Thompson golazo in the eighth minute, Ji So-Yun scored a penalty to keep things level in the first half, but the Reign never got things going in Los Angeles: they were out-possessed 58-42 and outshot 16-6 in a 2-1 defeat to Angel City. They were missing Jess Fishlock to injury, and playing their second straight game on the road, though, so fans can remain hopeful this is a stronger Seattle in 2025. The good news? They play at home again after the international break. The bad news is it's against Orlando.

7. Houston Dash

Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Saturday, April 12 vs. Angel City, 5 p.m. ET

In a 0-0 draw with Gotham, Houston collected a point in what might be the least eventful game of the weekend. Two of the best goalkeepers in the league featured on either side, but neither were really tested as the Dash and Gotham fired off three shots on target between them. Houston's careful approach could pay off for now: Jane Campbell clocked in for two saves to keep a clean sheet and the Dash into the international break in the top half of the table.

8. Bay FC

Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Sunday, April 13 vs. Chicago Stars, 7 p.m. ET (stream live on ESPN+)

Bay FC suffered their first loss of the season on the road against the Spirit, who they've yet to beat in NWSL. Washington dominated the first half, but Bay fought back in the second and were a bit unlucky not to walk away with a goal or two: rookie Taylor Huff (who will report to the U.S. U23 camp) had a sleek second-half strike called off due to a foul earlier in the play, and Spirit keeper Aubrey Kingsbury made some key saves to keep them out.

9. North Carolina Courage

Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Sunday, April 13 at Gotham FC, 4 p.m. ET

North Carolina generated a bit more in attack this week, but Mackenzie Arnold's five saves kept them from scoring. The Courage left Portland with a 0-0 draw, marking two draws and two total goals scored in their first three games. Similar to last season, North Carolina is a formidable team, but it is lacking in clinical finish. Fans shouldn't worry yet, the building blocks needed to succeed have been demonstrated so far this season.

10. Racing Louisville FC

Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Saturday, April 12 vs. Washington Spirit, 5 p.m. ET

Despite some notable injuries and absences, Louisville went to Chicago and collected its first win of the year in a 1-0 victory over last-placed Chicago. Taylor Flint set up Emma Sears for the decisive goal, which is just Racing's second strike of the year, both of them coming from Sears.

11. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Sunday, April 13 vs. North Carolina Courage, 4 p.m. ET

Gotham are still working through lots of changes since their third-place finish in 2024, but after drawing Houston 0-0 in Texas, they still haven't won a game in the new year. Beyond the scoreline, Gotham's most concerning development was an injury to center back Tierna Davidson, which saw the U.S. international leave the game with a non-contact knee injury. Three games into 2025 and concerns mounting.

12. Portland Thorns

Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Friday, April 11 at Utah Royals, 10 p.m. ET

Portland collected a second straight draw at home on Saturday, this time a 0-0 stalemate with North Carolina. The Thorns didn't need much of the ball to fire off shots (they left the game with 19, but just two were on target). Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold's five saves were essential to keeping the clean sheet and clinching the lone point as Portland continues to search for its first victory of the year.

13. Utah Royals

Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Friday, April 11 vs. Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ET

Utah entered the weekend with seven players on the injury list, including captain Paige Monaghan, as it went to Kansas City to play one of the toughest teams in the league. Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn made three saves, but it wasn't enough to fend off the attacking firepower of Temwa Chawinga, Debinha and Michelle Cooper, who scored three goals before the half to hand the Royals their second loss of the year.

14. Chicago Stars FC

Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Sunday, April 13 at Bay FC, 7 p.m. ET (stream live on ESPN+)

Things aren't looking great for Chicago early this season. After losing 1-0 to Louisville at home, the Stars are the only team to lose all three games so far this year. They've also scored one total goal while allowing nine. Silver lining: only allowing one goal is ... progress?

Retired NFL star defensive back Richard Sherman's house was robbed while his family was at home, the former Super Bowl champion said on social media Monday, asking for information to catch the perpetrators.

A post on X showed screengrabs of multiple individuals inside the former Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers cornerback's home in Washington state, time-stamped to Saturday, a day before Sherman's birthday.

"House being robbed at gun point with my family in it isn't what anyone wants for a birthday gift," said Sherman, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and broadcast analyst for "Thursday Night Football."

House being robbed at gun point with my family in it isn't what anyone wants for a birthday gift. Scary situation that my Wife handled masterfully and kept my kids safe. If anyone has any info that can help find these people please reach out. pic.twitter.com/HSHPiRHuoP

Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) March 31, 2025

"Scary situation that my wife handled masterfully and kept my kids safe. If anyone has any info that can help find these people please reach out," he added.

Another Video if anyone recognizes them or has any info please reach out pic.twitter.com/sY4lqLgTF7

Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) March 31, 2025

The incident comes months after the FBI urged professional athletes to take greater precautions following a string of break-ins at the homes of high-profile players, with the residence of two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes among the targets.

U.S. prosecutors last month unveiled criminal charges against seven suspected members of a Chilean theft ring accused of breaking into the homes of professional athletes while they were playing games. Some were caught with memorabilia stolen from the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- NFL owners have approved a tweak to league rules for flexing Thursday night games on Amazon Prime, reducing the window for notifying teams of a change to 21 days. The window had been 28 days since the rule was enacted in a contentious vote before the 2023 season.

Hans Schroeder, the NFL's executive vice president of media distribution, said the change will give the league a better opportunity to make a timely decision on potential flex decisions. Only one Thursday night game has been flexed since the 2023 vote, moving what had been a Sunday afternoon Week 16 game last season between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers to the previous Thursday night. The originally scheduled Thursday night game, between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, was moved to the following Sunday afternoon.

In 2023, some owners -- particularly the New York Giants' John Mara -- vehemently opposed allowing such a significant flex option even with a long window.

"Certainly, there are some people that are still not the biggest fans of it," Schroeder said, "but an overwhelming number of membership approved it. We're excited to have it. We think it's a win for our fans and for Amazon moving forward."

No other part of the Thursday flex rules changed. The league can flip a Sunday afternoon game into Thursday night and move the originally scheduled game to Sunday afternoon during Weeks 13 through 17. No team will be required to flex to a Thursday night game more than once, and the maximum number of Thursday night games will remain two per team. The Thursday night flex option can be applied no more than two times during the season.

The other potential NFL rule changes, including a proposal to ban the Philadelphia Eagles' tush push short-yardage play, are scheduled to be voted on Tuesday morning. Owners will also consider proposals to move the touchback on kickoffs to the 35-yard line, an expansion of the replay assist program and changing playoff seeding to feature team records rather than divisional titles.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam on Monday called the team's trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson a "big swing-and-miss."

In March 2022, Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in a trade package that included three first-round picks. The Browns then signed Watson to a $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed.

Since joining the Browns, Watson has started just 19 games because of suspension and injuries, posted one of the lowest Total QBRs in the NFL and suffered consecutive season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024.

"We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun," Haslam said Monday at the league's annual meeting. "We thought we had the quarterback; we didn't. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole.

"... [The trade] was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable."

Watson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Texans, tore his right Achilles tendon in October and underwent a second operation in January after retearing his Achilles. The Browns said Watson is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season.

His legal troubles have helped to derail his career in Cleveland. Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. A pair of Texas grand juries declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson, but he served his suspension after the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement on his discipline.

Cleveland still owes Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons.

The Browns' quarterback room currently consists of Watson and Kenny Pickett, whom the team traded for in mid-March. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Pickett will get an opportunity to compete to start in 2025.

Despite the admission that the Watson trade was unsuccessful, Haslam said the team is not tied to taking a quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

"It would be great if we could get 'the quarterback,' but we're not going to force it," Haslam said. "We're going to be patient and we're going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can."

SPOKANE, Wash. -- In the moments after Saturday's Sweet 16 win over Kansas State, USC players received a special FaceTime call. JuJu Watkins, the superstar and heartbeat of their team, phoned the locker room as her teammates celebrated their big win, hyping them up after USC had secured consecutive Elite Eight berths for the first time since 1982-84.

Watkins, responsible for revitalizing the USC women's basketball program after years of dormancy, had to watch the game from Los Angeles. The national player of the year front-runner sustained a season-ending ACL tear in the Trojans' second-round NCAA tournament game against Mississippi State, sending shockwaves throughout the sports world.

Gottlieb's 2-year-old daughter, Reese, blew kisses to Watkins over the phone. Confused, she asked, "JuJu's not hurt?" Gottlieb told her daughter, "No, she's still hurt, but she's happy today and with us."

Watkins will once more be supporting her Trojans from afar on Monday as No. 1 seed USC faces off against Paige Bueckers and the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies. This was the potential matchup every fan had circled as soon as the bracket dropped: a rematch of last year's Elite Eight and a showdown between two of the brightest stars in the game. If anything, fans were disappointed the two players would have to face each other at that stage of the tournament and both couldn't play in Tampa.

That excitement remains, but when the teams take the court Monday night, it won't be the same game everyone was hoping for -- UConn included.

Coach Geno Auriemma and Bueckers relate more than most to the predicament USC and Watkins face. UConn has dealt with a slew of season-ending injuries over the past few years, including to Bueckers. After winning national player of the year as a freshman, she sat out most of her sophomore season because of a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear. The following summer she tore her ACL and sat out the 2022-23 season.

It wasn't a surprise, then, that Auriemma and associate head coach Chris Dailey were among the first to reach out to Gottlieb in the hours after Watkins' injury. Bueckers reached out to Watkins, telling reporters "our heart breaks for her." She offered "whatever she needs, mentally, physically, if she needs to vent, ask questions."

"They have been through this," Gottlieb said, "and I think you don't feel it unless you've felt it before in that way."

Auriemma and Bueckers have experienced firsthand the ups and downs of the rehab process and what it takes to come out on the other side.

"If you're a competitor, if you're somebody like Paige, somebody like JuJu, or some of the other kids that have gone through this, they come back better," Auriemma said. "They come back stronger, they come back more determined, more resilient, more understanding that they can fight through things and overcome just about anything."

Bueckers agreed.

"You don't get to be as good as JuJu if you don't have a great motor, a great work ethic, and she's going to attack this process just as she's attacked basketball," she said. "And just as she's great at basketball, she's going to be great at this recovery process. Disappointed for her but know she will be back better than ever, and this will just be a little setback to the great story she will have."

For Bueckers, a drive to be great -- a shared quality that made her and Watkins stars in the first place -- helped her bounce back stronger than ever. In this tournament, she has scored 74 points over the past two games -- including a career-high 40 in the Sweet 16 on Saturday -- while boasting the top assist-to-turnover ratio in the country and shooting splits of 50-40-90 efficiency.

And now, with her days in a UConn jersey coming to an end, Auriemma and Gottlieb said they see a star playing with a greater sense of urgency as she tries to win a championship, which would be the program's first since 2016.

"You try not to think about the stakes or the pressure or getting to the Final Four," Bueckers said. "Obviously that's there, so you try not to think about it and just go out and play every single game the same way like it's your last, like it's the most important 40 minutes of your life. ... We just want the season to keep going as long as possible. So leaving nothing up to chance, giving it our all for that 40 minutes to play for another 40 is our team mindset."

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma Sooners have hired former Sooners player and Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young as assistant general manager for men's basketball.

He also has pledged to donate $1 million to the program, the school announced Monday.

Young, a four-time NBA All-Star, was an All-American for Oklahoma in 2017-18, his only season with the Sooners. He became the first player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in points per game (27.4) and assists per game (8.7). He was drafted No. 5 overall.

The 26-year-old Norman North High School graduate has worn his love for the city on his sleeve for years.

"As someone who grew up in Norman and played at the University of Oklahoma, stepping into the role of assistant GM for OU Basketball is a huge honor," Young said in a statement. "This program has such a rich history, which I am fortunate to have been and continue to be a part of. In my new role, my focus is on helping contribute to OU's winning culture, working alongside the coaching staff and front office to bring in the right players to help us compete and succeed at the highest level."

Young will assist with the evaluation of high school and transfer portal prospects, help negotiate player contracts, and guide players in building their brands.

"Trae is a son of Norman, Oklahoma, and he's given so much to our city and its people," Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "He has a strong affinity for this place and his commitment to ensuring our community is a thriving one is truly unmatched. He's also an OU legend who, in his time here and since, continues to achieve excellence both on and off the court."

Young joins Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry in taking on an administrative role at his alma mater in this new era of college sports. Curry was named assistant GM at Davidson earlier this month.

Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper, the projected No. 2 pick, announced Monday on ESPN's "NBA Today" that he will declare for this year's draft.

"I'll remember all the life lessons this season," Harper told ESPN. "The ups and downs and good and bad. Staying leveled."

He was named third-team All-Big Ten and to the all-freshman team after averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals this season.

Harper broke the freshman scoring record at Rutgers while finishing as the fifth-best scorer in the Big Ten, showing his potential with several scintillating performances. He appeared en route to challenging Cooper Flagg as a potential No. 1 pick candidate early in the season with back-to-back 36- and 37-point outings against Notre Dame and Alabama in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas in November, but was hampered by an ankle injury and a bout with the flu that caused him to lose significant weight and miss time in January.

At 6-foot-6, Harper has excellent size for a point guard, with a combination of shot-creation prowess, passing creativity, finishing skill and overall scoring ability that have drawn comparisons in NBA circles to a young James Harden.

"NBA teams saw I am an all-around player," Harper sad. "I can do whatever it takes to win. Whether it's score, defend or facilitate. Anything Coach needs me to do."

Harper made 50 3-pointers in 29 games, averaged 5.8 free throw attempts and hit an impressive 57% of his 2-point attempts this season despite having little help on a Rutgers team that didn't boast much talent beyond him and projected No. 3 pick Ace Bailey. Rutgers finished 15-17 on the season, bowing out in the first round of the Big Ten tournament after a double-overtime loss to USC, with Harper posting 27 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals in his final college performance.

"The next few months, I'll be spending a lot of time in the gym, watching film, getting my body right, preparing for the next level and making sure everything is sharp.

The NBA draft combine will be held May 11-18 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 25-26 in New York City.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.

Phoenix Suns All-Star Kevin Durant is expected to miss at least one week with a left ankle sprain, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The Suns are on the road this week against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, the Boston Celtics on Friday and the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Durant suffered the injury in the Suns' home blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. It marked the third time that Durant has sprained his left ankle over two years in Phoenix.

The injury occurred when Durant stepped awkwardly on the ankle following a collision with Rockets forward Jabari Smith under the Phoenix basket. Smith was called for a foul. Durant eventually got to his feet, but could not put weight on his left leg and was forced to leave the game.

The Suns are 1.5 games out of a Play-In Tournament slot with seven games left and the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA. The Suns are 2-11 without Durant this season and 33-29 when he plays.

Durant, 36, has had another stellar season for Phoenix, averaging 26.6 points while shooting 52.7% from the field. Earlier this season, he moved into eighth place on the NBA career scoring list.

With less than a month left in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the playoff picture will soon start to get clearer as teams book their postseason spots.

The top six teams from each conference will be assured playoff spots, while team Nos. 7-10 in the standings will enter the play-in tournament (April 15-18). Two teams in each conference will then emerge to fill out the eight-team field, with the first round of the playoffs starting April 19.

Check back as more teams clinch playoff and play-in spots.

JUMP TO:
East: Playoff race | Play-in race | Whose in?
West: Playoff race | Play-in race | Whose in?

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE

In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a commanding lead over the defending champion Boston Celtics for the top seed. Along with those two, the New York Knicks are the only other team to have clinched a playoff spot.

Eliminated teams in the East: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN RACE

The teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in the standings advance to the play-in tournament. The winner of the game between the No. 7 and No. 8 seed will advance to face the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The winner between the No. 9 and No. 10 seed will then face the loser of the 7-8 for the chance to then face the No. 1 seed.

WHAT HAVE EAST TEAMS CLINCHED?

The following teams will advance to the postseason. Where's what they've clinched:

Cleveland Cavaliers

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot; won Central Division

The Cavs were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and are on target to secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since their title-winning season in 2015-16.

Cleveland's remarkable season has been highlighted by two separate winning streaks of at least 15 games.

The Cavs reached the playoffs last season as the No. 4 seed, needing seven games to eliminate the Magic in the first round. They were then ousted by the Celtics in the conference semifinals in five games.

Boston Celtics

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot; won Atlantic Division

The defending NBA Finals champions are looking for their record-extending 19th title, although they likely will finish as the No. 2 seed in the East this season.

The Celtics finished as the top seed in the East last season on their way to defeating the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Boston has now made the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons (the league's longest active streak), and it reached at least the conference finals in four of the past five campaigns.

New York Knicks

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot

The Knicks will now make three straight playoff appearances for the first time since 2010-13 but have not reached the conference finals since 2000. The team has advanced to the conference semifinals each of the previous two seasons, with last year's exit coming at the hands of the Pacers in seven games.

Milwaukee Bucks

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Bucks will look to avoid another early exit from the playoffs -- two consecutive first-round losses -- after guaranteeing a spot in the postseason. But the team remains a model of postseason consistency with nine straight appearances (including the 2022 championship).

Indiana Pacers

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

After making it to the conference finals last season, the Pacers are back in the postseason. With one of the easier schedules left in the East, they will look to hold on to a top-six seeding to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.

Detroit Pistons

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

After finishing 14-68 last season, the worst record in franchise history, the Pistons are now heading to the postseason. They last made the play-in in 2019 but were swept in four games by the Bucks in the first round.

Orlando Magic

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Magic made the playoffs last season but face an uphill battle this time around as their path will likely go through the play-in tournament.

Last season's playoff appearance (their first since 2020) saw Orlando exit in the first round in seven games against the Cavaliers.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched the top spot for the second straight season. As for the rest of the field, anything can happen. The West has been a season-long battle for playoff positioning and looks to be going down to the wire. Keep an eye on the battle for the No. 2 spot, the No. 6 spot and the No. 10 play-in spot.

Eliminated teams in the West: New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN RACE

The teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in the standings advance to the play-in tournament. The winner of the game between the No. 7 and No. 8 seed will advance to face the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The winner between the No. 9 and No. 10 seed will then face the loser of the 7-8 for the chance to then face the No. 1 seed.

WHAT HAVE WEST TEAMS CLINCHED?

The following teams will advance to the postseason. Here's that they've clinched:

Oklahoma City Thunder

What they've clinched: No. 1 West seed; won Northwest Division

OKC has clinched the No. 1 West seed for the sixth time in franchise history (dating back to the Seattle SuperSonics era) and the first instance in consecutive seasons. Even more impressive is the Thunder's record against East teams this season (24-1).

Last season, they were eliminated in the West's conference semifinals by the Mavericks, who eventually reached the NBA Finals.

Houston Rockets

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

Under second-year coach Ime Udoka, Houston is on the verge of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2020. It's been a turnaround season for the Rockets, who are among several teams bunched toward the top of the West fighting for the No. 2 spot behind the Thunder.

Denver Nuggets

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

Led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets continue their postseason streak. They have made the playoffs in the past six seasons, including the 2023 title.

Last season, Denver reached the conference semifinals, where they were eliminated by the Timberwolves in a seven-game thriller.

Los Angeles Lakers

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

LeBron James and Luka Doncic are trying to secure the highest seed possible for the Lakers in a tough West. Under first-year coach JJ Redick, the team is on the verge of its third straight playoff appearance.

Doncic led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, and will aim to do so again with his new team. Last season, the Lakers reached the first round of the playoffs through the play-in tournament, where they lost to the Nuggets for a second straight postseason.

Memphis Grizzlies

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

After missing the playoffs last season, the Grizzlies have bounced back this time around. However, it's been a tumultuous time, as the team fired Taylor Jenkins as coach with just two weeks left in the regular season.

Golden State Warriors

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Warriors are back in the postseason and remain in contention to clinch the No. 6 spot. Last season, the team failed to advance into the playoffs after losing to the Kings in the play-in tournament. Golden State hopes that the midseason addition of Jimmy Butler III will allow Stephen Curry & Co. to make an extended run this time around.

Minnesota Timberwolves

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Timberwolves are in the mix for a playoff spot but might have to settle for getting through via the play-in tournament. If they do, it will mark the fourth straight season of playoff basketball in Minnesota. Last year, the Timberwolves reached the conference finals (losing to the Mavericks) for just the second time in franchise history.