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The 2019 NBA playoffs will start exactly four weeks from Saturday's regular season. With this in mind, and during a night of nine teams playing in the playoffs, let's take a look at three things: how did each team play in the playoff race, where each one resides in the playoffs? ranking and what was waiting for them reaped post-season hopes.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics continued their efforts to get to the home stadium in the first round after resisting a late Hawks climb, winning a 129-120 victory. All-Star star goalie Kyrie Irving led the team to points (30), rebounds (11) and badists (9) as Boston won their fifth game in six games.
Brad Stevens' group is currently one game behind the Pacers, who have persevered, to rank fourth in the East. The two teams met two more times before the end of the season. These competitions, which could eventually determine who will reach the court of first instance, are critical as the series of the season is currently divided 1-1.
Biggest game of the week: @ Philadelphia (Wednesday, 8 am, ESPN)
Boston is ahead of the 76ers half a game and will try to make a statement and attempt the sweep of the season.
Next five games: Denver, @ Philadelphia, @ Charlotte, San Antonio, @ Cleveland
Brooklyn nets
Brooklyn dropped to 0-2 to begin its seven-game road trip, tipping 114-198 in Utah.
This is a brutal course for the Nets, who are looking for their first appearance in the playoffs since the 2013-14 season. The rising team will no longer play a home game until March 30, when it will start a three-game family match against the Bucks, Celtics and Raptors. How welcoming.
Biggest game of the week: @ L.A. Lakers (Friday, 10.30 am ET, Pbad League)
Who would have thought that a team led by LeBron James would be their easiest opponent this week?
Next five games: @ The Clippers, @ Sacramento, @ L.A. Lakers, @ Portland, @ Philadelphia
Denver Nuggets
The ejection of Nikola Jokic did not cost the Nuggets, who managed to hang in Indiana (102-100).
The Nuggets also remain a match behind the two-time defending champions for the West seeded. They will have the opportunity to share the season with Golden State on April 2 in Oakland. As for this week, the Nuggets are about to start a four-game journey on the road and they will need "Big Honey".
Biggest game of the week: @ Boston (Monday, 7.30 am ET, Pbad League)
The Nuggets are hoping to start a four-game road trip against East.
Next five games: @ Boston, @ Washington, @ New York, @ Indiana, Detroit
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers fired 0-8 deep in the second half, which reduced their chances of upsetting the Nuggets on the road. 102-100 defeat.
Indiana, fifth in the Eastern Conference, has a game lead over the Celtics and a half-game over the 76ers for third place. Their schedule this week could determine their ultimate ranking in April, as they are currently on a four-game road trip to the West, with the upcoming Blazers, Clippers and Warriors.
Biggest game of the week: @ Portland (Monday, 10:30 am ET, ESPN)
It is crucial that the Pacers steal a match during this four-game trek against the West. Here is their best opportunity.
Next five games: @ Portland, @ LA Clippers, @ Golden State, Denver, @ Oklahoma City
Warriors of the state of the gold
Golden State made a statement over the past eight days by shutting out three other West Conference elite teams: Denver was not an opponent, Houston's recovery was disappointing, and Oklahoma City still felt the wrath of Splash Bros. The Warriors won 110-88 against the Thunder, behind Stephen Curry, 33 points, and Klay Thompson, 23 points.
Golden State remains a game in front of the Nuggets for the No. 1 seed of the West.
Biggest game of the week: @ San Antonio (Monday, 8 am, ESPN)
Durant, who missed his second game with an ankle injury, is expected to return for Monday's game against the Spurs, while the Warriors will have another opportunity to humiliate a West Conference challenger.
Next five games: @ San Antonio, @ Minnesota, Indiana, Dallas, Detroit
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder has lost nine of its last 14 games, with Golden State's last loss coming after a 110-88 home defeat.
If the season ended today, Oklahoma City would not have the advantage of the field. To make matters worse, among the eight teams currently in the Western playoff picture, the Thunder have the most difficult calendar remaining.
Biggest game of the week: Toronto (Wednesday, 9:30 am ET, ESPN)
Oklahoma City must prove that he is still a formidable opponent before the playoffs by winning at least one of those games against Toronto.
Next five games: Miami, Toronto, @ Toronto, @ Memphis, Indiana
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland lost in a playoff preview against Spurs (108-103). The main concern of the team, however, is the health of his guard at the start, CJ McCollum. In the middle of the third quarter, McCollum was saved from the field after being injured in his left knee. Further details should be provided on Sunday as it is intended for an MRI.
The Blazers are fourth in the Western Conference, one game behind the Rockets and half a game in front of the Thunder. Portland will open its last home run of the season on Monday, a consistent four-game streak as the team struggles to position itself.
Biggest game of the week: Indiana (Monday, 10:30 am ET, ESPN)
It's a tough test for Terry Stotts' crew, whether he's playing or not, and it's against a team that has always thrived despite the loss of its injured starting guard.
Next five games: Indiana, Dallas, Detroit, Brooklyn, @ Chicago
San Antonio Spurs
LaMarcus Aldridge struggled against his former team, but the Spurs did just enough to put away the 108-103 Blazers. Seven players doubled and San Antonio won their eighth consecutive victory.
The Spurs have touted the No. 1 ranked defense in the NBA in their winning streak. They are sixth in the Western Conference and only 2.5 games in the third seed of the West, an end of the series that is not out of the question considering how they play. It's a tough week ahead, though, but they're coming in with confidence after knocking down the Thunder, Nuggets, Bucks and Blazers during their recent turnover.
Biggest game of the week: Golden State (Monday, 8 am, ESPN)
The hottest team in the West is testing against another statement.
Next five games: Golden State, Miami, @ Houston, @ Boston, @ Charlotte
Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert defeated an illness by losing 23 points and 17 rebounds in a win against the Nets.
The Jazz is currently in seventh place in the West, which would allow to organize a clash with the Nuggets. But enjoy the easiest remaining schedule in the league should allow them to make a jump.
Biggest game of the week: @ New York (Wednesday, 7:30 am ET, Pbad League)
The return of Donovan Mitchell at home adds some intrigue to a busy week. 500 opponents.
Next five games: @ Washington, @ New York, @ Atlanta, @ Chicago, Phoenix
What about the Washington Wizards?
First, marvel at what we see Bradley Beal. The All-Star Sorcerer's shooting guard was hot against the Grizzlies and recorded a 40-point performance for the second consecutive night. His masterpiece on Saturday had nine three-point points, seven badists, five rebounds and two career-high flights in the Sorcerers' triumph of 135-128 points.
Beal is averaging 31.2 points on 50/40/85 shooting divisions since the All-Star break – a monster stretch that has beefed up his All-NBA record – but the Wizards are 6-6 over this period and need to resume pace for any shot in the playoffs. Washington is still on the sidelines, less than three games from eighth in Miami after Saturday's win.
Biggest game of the week: Miami (Saturday, 7 ET, Pbad League)
The Wizards are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference and a win against the Heat would help to rank a team slightly ahead of them.
Next five games: Utah, @ Chicago, Denver, Miami, @ Los Angeles
What about the … no matter
Change gears for teams headed to the lottery. The Pelicans lost in overtime to the Suns after a strange sequence, which was another reason why New Orleans are doomed to miss the playoffs.
The drama of Anthony Davis certainly had an impact on their season, but it's a bit of another powerful striker who finally cost them the match on Saturday: Chris Webber.
New Orleans called a timeout that was not yet 1.1 seconds in overtime, setting a technical free kick from Devin Booker that sealed the 138-136 Suns win.
Let's go back a bit: the Pelicans had a lead of 136-133 plus possession of the ball with 7.7 seconds to go. From there, they returned the ball with a five-second violation. chose not to foul on the possession of the Suns that ensued despite the fact that it was three hours later and that the clock ended; watched Josh Jackson hit a draw 3; then proceed to call a non-existent timeout to draw a technique.
It was a terrible way to lose, but after all, it's March Madness (sorry C-Webb).
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