Friday night’s NBA slate has several games with playoff implications. Let’s examine what’s on the line for teams tonight:
Magic at Sixers
- The Sixers can clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference with a win in Philadelphia over the Magic. The victory would also give the franchise its first Atlantic Division title since 2001. That year, Allen Iverson led the team to the NBA Finals.
Cavaliers at Wizards
- Washington has lost two straight games but they need just one more win to clinch a spot in the play-in tournament.
- The Bulls are on the other side of the equation, needing the Cavaliers to pull an upset on Friday night. Chicago would have to defeat the Nets on Saturday and the Bucks on Sunday to claim that final play-in spot. The windy city has an uphill battle ahead of them but it starts with rooting for their central division rivals on Friday night.
Raptors at Mavericks
- If the Mavericks win, they clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament. Dallas is currently 41-29, sitting in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference. This would be the second-straight postseason appearance for Luka Doncic & Co.
Clippers at Rockets
- The Rockets are cemented in the lottery and the Clippers have clinched a playoff spot. However, the Pacific Division title remains up for grabs and if Houston pulls off the upset, Phoenix takes the Pacific for the first time since the 2007 season.
Read More
- NBA Mock Draft (Lottery) 2.0: Raptors move to No. 3, Cavaliers land new wing
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis talks play-in tournament, sports betting, more
- Podcast: Not all united as Cavaliers enter final weekend of games
