A Lot at Stake to End the NBA Regular Season

By Sam Schwartz on Wednesday, April 15th 2015
A Lot at Stake to End the NBA Regular Season

Charlotte Hornets at Toronto Raptors, 7:00 PM

Meaningless for the Hornets, the Raptors will likely be battling for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they are a half game back and will need the Bulls to lose.

 

Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 PM

With the top seed locked up, Atlanta can sit back and watch its last game. Meanwhile, the Bulls need a win to lock up the third seed in the East. If that were the case, they would play the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the postseason. If the Bulls lose and the Raptors win, they would be at home against the Wizards as the fourth seed.

 

Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks, 8:00 PM

This game will not change the seeding for either team. The Blazers have locked up the fourth seed as a result of a Northwest Division title, but have been hampered by injuries as of late and have lost their last three games. A tough playoff matchup looms and, while the standings around them could shake up significantly, the Blazers are currently looking at home court advantage against the Houston Rockets. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are guaranteed a matchup against the second seed, which, as of right now, is the red-hot San Antonio Spurs.

 

Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets, 8:00 PM

The Jazz have been looking ahead to the lottery for quite some time, while the Rockets have slipped in the standings. Seeds two through six are virtually neck-and-neck and the Rockets have lost a hold of the Southwest Division lead, slipping to fifth place in the conference. They will need the Spurs to lose to the New Orleans Pelicans in order to grab the division title.

 

Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00 PM

The Celtics clinched a playoff berth on their day off, courtesy of a Brooklyn Nets loss to the Chicago Bulls. However, the Celtics cannot steal the sixth seed away from the Bucks, who have distanced themselves with a two-and-a-half game lead. There is still a chance the Celtics can fall to eighth if they lose and the Pacers win.

 

Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:00 PM

The Thunder are relying on a win and a Pelicans loss in order to clinch the eighth seed and a subsequent first round matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Both scenarios are very likely with the Spurs needing a win to clinch their division. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have made a hard push as the top lottery team, losing their last eleven games. Another loss would ensure their chances.

 

San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans, 8:00 PM

While the Thunder will be watching the scoreboard during their game, the Pelicans control their fate. A win guarantees a playoff berth, but a loss sends New Orleans home for the offseason. The Spurs, however, will be looking for a victory as well with their sights set on a Southwest Division title.

 

Orlando Magic at Brooklyn Nets, 8:00 PM

The Nets need a win and a Pacers loss to make the playoffs. They currently sit a half-game back from the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, but a Pacers win against the Wizards would officially eliminate the Nets.

 

Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers, 8:00 PM

The Cavaliers have nothing to lose and nothing to gain and the Wizards are locked into the fifth position in the standings. They have no chance of regaining home court advantage and are now staring at a first-round matchup against the Raptors or Bulls.

 

Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks, 8:00 PM

Irrelevant on both accounts. The Knicks would be wise to lose this game to increase their chances of getting the first pick in the draft. The Pistons are currently looking at the eighth pick and a game plan for next season.

 

Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers, 8:00 PM

The 76ers have lost nine games in a row and are looking at a top-three pick in the draft for the second year in a row. The Heat need a lot of help to make the postseason, starting with two Pacers losses. Meanwhile, the Nets win would officially eliminate Miami.

 

Indiana Pacers at Memphis Grizzlies, 9:30 PM

A game that will have a heavy impact on the standings, both teams will be looking for wins. A Grizzlies win with the addition of a Rockets loss would move them up at least one spot in the standings, but they do not own the tiebreaker over the Spurs.

 

Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors, 10:30 PM

The only thing at stake in this matchup is the Nuggets hopes in the NBA Draft Lottery. The Warriors will begin preparing for their first round matchup against either the Thunder or Pelicans.

 

Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 PM

A game featuring two lottery-bound teams, the in-state rivalry officially ends the NBA regular season. There is more drama off the court than on.

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Scores

7:00 PM ET
Pistons
-
Cavaliers
-
7:30 PM ET
Celtics
-
Nets
-
8:00 PM ET
Bucks
-
Knicks
-
8:30 PM ET
Mavericks
-
Grizzlies
-
9:30 PM ET
Thunder
-
Nuggets
-
Clippers
88
Timberwolves
92
Nets
110
Spurs
126
Jazz
118
Pelicans
129
Pacers
109
Hornets
133
76ers
124
Heat
117
Bulls
112
Trail Blazers
121
Magic
108
Rockets
113
Mavericks
121
Kings
130
Hawks
126
Wizards
96
Suns
113
Lakers
110
1:00 PM ET
Hornets
-
Trail Blazers
-
3:30 PM ET
Heat
-
Rockets
-
7:00 PM ET
Wizards
-
Raptors
-
8:30 PM ET
Warriors
-
Lakers
-
9:30 PM ET
Jazz
-
Pelicans
-