Because the NBA enters All-Star Weekend, there is not a lot drama on the high of the Japanese and Western Convention standings.
The Cavaliers (44-10, first in Japanese Convention) and Thunder (44-10, first in Western Convention) maintain sizable leads, however issues are tighter additional down.
Listed below are 5 races to observe when the season’s second half suggestions off on Wednesday.
Japanese Convention No. 4
Present chief: Indiana Pacers (30-23)
Competitors: Milwaukee Bucks (29-24, 1 GB); Detroit Pistons (29-26, 2 GB)
Barring collapses, one of many Pacers, Bucks or Pistons will host a first-round playoff collection.
Indiana is coming off a run to the Japanese Convention Finals a season in the past and has gone 14-5 since Jan. 1. Milwaukee has used the Emirates NBA Cup as a springboard to bounce again from an unsightly 2-8 begin. Detroit is the league’s most nice shock, already greater than doubling its 2023-24 win whole (14) on the mid-season break.
The Bucks have probably the most tough remaining schedule of the three. Coming into Thursday, their remaining opponents had a .523 win share, whereas the Pacers and Pistons’ remaining opponents had a .498 win share.
East No. 10
Present chief: Chicago Bulls (22-33)
Competitors: Philadelphia 76ers (20-34, 1.5 GB)
When Philadelphia signed ahead Paul George to a four-year, $211.6M contract, few predicted it will result in the Sixers combating with the Bulls for the convention’s 10-seed.
The Sixers have been dreadful this season, they usually’re operating out of time to snap out of their season-long funk.
Chicago is on a four-game skid. The Bulls launch the second-most threes per recreation (43) and should proceed taking pictures their approach into the postseason. Coming into the All-Star break, the Bulls enable the league’s second-most factors per recreation (120.7) and are No. 26 in defensive score.
Western Convention No. 2
Present chief: Memphis Grizzlies (36-18)
Competitors: Denver Nuggets (36-19, 0.5 GB); Houston Rockets (34-21, 2.5 GB); Los Angeles Lakers (32-20, 3 GB)
Memphis is once more a West contender after accidents wrecked its 2023-24 season. The Grizzlies lead the NBA in tempo and scoring, averaging 123.3 factors per recreation.
Nuggets heart Nikola Jokic, contemporary off his third MVP trophy in 4 seasons, is averaging a triple-double — 29.8 factors, 12.6 rebounds and 10.2 assists per recreation.
The younger Rockets have pale lately, going 2-7 of their final 9 video games. Basketball Reference only gives the Lakers, two video games behind Memphis within the loss column, a 0.5% likelihood of incomes the No. 2 seed regardless of their current acquisition of five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic.
West No. 6
Present chief: Los Angeles Clippers (31-23)
Competitors: Minnesota Timberwolves (31-25, 1 GB), Dallas Mavericks (30-26, 2 GB)
On Thursday, the Timberwolves stored tempo within the race to keep away from the play-in event with a 116-101 win over the Thunder to match the Clippers’ 120-116 additional time win over the Jazz.
The Mavs additionally beat the Warmth, 118-113, persevering with their admirable on-court response to the Doncic commerce, having gained 4 of 5.
West No. 10
Present chief: Golden State Warriors (28-27)
Competitors: Phoenix Suns (26-28, 1.5 GB)
Ahead Jimmy Butler and guard Stephen Curry are discovering their footing. They performed their fourth recreation as Golden State teammates on Thursday in opposition to the Rockets, a 105-98 win, and mixed for 46 factors. For the reason that commerce, Curry is averaging 31 factors and 5.8 threes per recreation.
The Warriors’ competitors for the West’s ultimate play-in spot is the Suns, whose roster might look a lot totally different subsequent season if the present core, together with ahead Kevin Durant and guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal ends the season outdoors of the highest 10.
