With the regular season suspended indefinitely, we're left without our daily NBA fix. In order to try and fill that vacancy in your life, we're here to give you a simulated version of the real NBA schedule on NBA 2K20 each day!
With the rest of last week unaccounted for, we're picking things up this week with daily updates to follow.
Below, we have you covered with today's schedule, top performers, obscure stat lines, key results, other news and an updated playoff picture!
Key wins, losses, upsets
• Boston Celtics fans are feeling hatred toward the Los Angeles Lakers, per usual. In hopes that the Western Conference's first-place team could take a game off of the Raptors in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the East, Toronto prevailed to beat Los Angeles and keep a 2.5 game lead over Boston in the standings. Despite a monster game from Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers suffered mightily without star forward Anthony Davis, who missed the game with a bruised knee. Fred VanVleet played like he just had another kid, dropping 32 points.
• The Philadelphia 76ers have jumped the Indiana Pacers for the No. 5 seed in the East with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, currently avoiding a potential first-round matchup against the Celtics or Raptors. Double-doubles from Joel Embiid (25 points, 11 rebounds) and Ben Simmons (19 points, 11 assists) are to be expected, but a 26-point outburst from Alec Burks was the difference-maker as Philly barely escaped a Karl-Anthony Towns-less Minnesota squad. Hey, the Sixers will take any road win they can get this season.
Top virtual performers
Jordan Clarkson – 31 points, 10-15 FG
Joel Embiid – 25 points, 11 rebounds
LeBron James – 25 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists
Kyle Kuzma – 32 points, 14-20 FG
Damian Lillard – 36 points, 9 assists
D'Angelo Russell – 29 points, 7 assists
Ben Simmons – 19 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds
Fred VanVleet – 32 points, 5 assists
Obscure stat lines
Dillon Brooks – 20 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks. Strictly buckets.
Dwight Howard – 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks. Two for me, two for you.
March 25 schedule
Sacramento Kings 101, Cleveland Cavaliers 89
Charlotte Hornets 130, Portland Trail Blazers 116
Toronto Raptors 113, Los Angeles Lakers 105
Memphis Grizzlies 110, New Orleans Pelicans 83
Philadelphia 76ers 124, Minnesota Timberwolves 120
Utah Jazz 127, San Antonio Spurs 121
Updated playoff race
Rank | Team | Record | Win pct. | Games back |
1. | Bucks | 58-13 | .817 | - |
2. | Raptors | 51-19 | .729 | 6.5 |
3. | Celtics | 49-22 | .690 | 9.0 |
4. | Heat | 44-27 | .620 | 14.0 |
5. | 76ers | 42-29 | .592 | 16.0 |
6. | Pacers | 41-29 | .586 | 16.5 |
7. | Nets | 33-37 | .471 | 24.5 |
8. | Magic | 33-38 | .465 | 25.0 |
- | Wizards | 25-46 | .352 | 33.0 |
Rank | Team | Record | Win pct. | Games back |
1. | Lakers | 55-15 | .786 | - |
2. | Clippers | 48-22 | .686 | 7.0 |
3. | Nuggets | 47-24 | .662 | 8.5 |
4. | Thunder | 45-26 | .634 | 10.5 |
5. | Rockets | 43-27 | .614 | 12.0 |
6. | Jazz | 42-29 | .597 | 13.0 |
7. | Mavericks | 42-31 | .575 | 14.5 |
8. | Grizzlies | 37-35 | .514 | 19.0 |
- | Blazers | 34-38 | .472 | 22.0 |
- | Spurs | 31-39 | .443 | 24.0 |
- | Kings | 31-40 | .437 | 24.5 |
- | Pelicans | 30-42 | .417 | 26.0 |
The views here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.