With the NBA Playoffs quickly approaching, the NBA restart continues with its busiest seeding game schedule on Monday.
14 teams are in action with a seven-game slate that features a number of matchups that impact the postseason picture.
From the teams fighting for the West's final playoff spot to the teams jockeying for position in the standings, here's how each game has impacted the playoff picture.
San Antonio Spurs 122, New Orleans Pelicans 113
Once again, do not count out Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs.
DeMar DeRozan finished with a team-high 27 points (on 10-for-16 shooting) in 33 minutes to lead the Spurs to yet another big win. Rudy Gay finished with 19 off the bench while Dejounte Murray (18), Derrick White (16) and Marco Belinelli (14) made contributions on the offensive end.
The 22-year streak isn't out of the question just yet.
The Pelicans were led by 31 points off the bench from JJ Redick while Zion Williamson scored 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds (five offensive). All-Star Brandon Ingram finished with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists for New Orleans.
What it means: San Antonio moves within one game of the No. 8 seed and currently sits in 11th in the West.
Following the Blazers' win over the 76ers later in the day, the Pelicans have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Toronto Raptors 108, Memphis Grizzlies 99
After a rough showing in a big loss to the Boston Celtics, the Raptors bounced back to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies.
Pascal Siakam led the way with his best showing of the NBA restart, finishing with a game-high 26 points on 9-for-16 shooting from the field and 4-for-9 from deep. Norman Powell also had an impressive game with 16 points off the bench.
Toronto has now won 50 games for five straight seasons.
The Grizzlies were led by 25 points from Dillon Brooks while Rookie of the Year finalist Ja Morant finished with a 17-point, 10-assist double-double. Memphis is now 1-5 during the NBA restart with two games remaining.
What it means: Toronto has clinched its sixth Atlantic Division title in seven years as well as the East's No. 2 seed.
Memphis remains No. 8 in the West, for now, but now only has a one-game cushion over San Antonio and Portland with two games to play.
Oklahoma City Thunder 121, Washington Wizards 103
Without Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel, the Thunder led wire-to-wire as they earned their third win at the NBA's restart.
Rookie Darius Bazley showed encouraging signs of promise, scoring a career-high 23 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes of action off the bench. Danilo Gallinari added 20 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Chris Paul added 13 points, nine assists and six boards of his own in an overall dominant performance from OKC.
It's about development for the Wizards, who were led by second-year guard Jerome Robinson's 19 points off the bench. Rookie Rui Hachimura added 11 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes.
What it means: OKC stays in fifth in the West. It holds a half-game over the Utah Jazz in sixth but remains one game behind the Houston Rockets, with their win later in the day.
The Wizards, who are now 0-5 in Orlando, have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Boston Celtics 122, Orlando Magic 119 [OT]
Big games from Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum propelled the Celtics to a narrow win over the Magic in overtime!
Hayward poured in 31 points on 12-for-18 shooting from the field, adding nine rebounds and six assists, while Tatum scored 12 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
JT has taken over 🔥 pic.twitter.com/K1wNnzx0Hx
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 9, 2020
Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 26 points and 11 rebounds as they dropped their fourth-straight game.
What it means: The Celtics are now locked in the third seed, opening up a 4.0 game lead over the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers. Meanwhile, the Magic are locked into the eighth seed after the Nets clinched the seventh seed with a win later in the day.
Portland Trail Blazers 124, Philadelphia 76ers 121
DAME TIME!!!
The Portland Trail Blazers continue their march towards the playoffs, thanks to a 51-point explosion from Damian Lillard.
Lillard scored 18 of his 51 points in the fourth quarter, capping off his fifth 50-point game of the season in style.
*checks watch* pic.twitter.com/cKPxNzWs2K
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) August 10, 2020
He shot an efficient 16-of-28 from the field, 4-of-12 from the 3-point line and 15-of-16 at the free-throw line as the Blazers move to a 3-3 record in Orlando.
With Joel Embiid exiting the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury, Josh Richardson stepped up on the offensive end for Philly, scoring a season-high 34 points, adding six assists, and five rebounds.
What it means: The Blazers pull to within half a game of the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth seed, in the process, eliminating the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans from playoff contention.
Meanwhile, the 76ers remain in the sixth seed in the East, 1.0 game back of the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat.
Houston Rockets 129, Sacramento Kings 112
No Russell Westbrook, no problem!
Austin Rivers delivered a monster game off the bench against the Kings, recording a career-high 41 points, adding six rebounds, and four assists. He shot the ball at an efficient clip, going 14-of-20 from the field and 6-of-11 from the 3-point line to help the Rockets tighten their grip on the no.4 seed.
James Harden added 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists as they improve to a 4-1 record in the bubble.
Austin Rivers was feeling it tonight. 🥵
— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) August 10, 2020
41 PTS (career-high)
6 3PM
6 REB
4 AST
2 STL pic.twitter.com/p6bxBynNwu
What it means: With the win, the Rockets secure the Southwest Division for the third consecutive season and now hold a 1.0 game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 1.5 game lead over the Utah Jazz
The Blazers' win over the 76ers ended the Kings' slim playoff chances, extending their postseason drought to 14 years.
Brooklyn Nets 129, LA Clippers 120
The Brooklyn Nets improve to 4-2 in the bubble after an upset win over the LA Clippers.
The Nets led by as many as 21 points, thanks to a huge first-quarter performance where they outscored the Clippers 45-24, led by Caris LeVert and Joe Harris.
LeVert poured in 27 points and 13 assists, while Harris added 25 points (23 in the first half) and Tyler Johnson 21 off the bench.
.@CarisLeVert got all the buckets in the 1st 🔥🔥🔥#BrooklynStrong | @GEICO pic.twitter.com/kEHt1dMaOG
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) August 10, 2020
Kawhi Leonard recorded a game-high 39 points for the Clippers, who fall to a 3-3 record in Orlando, with two seeding games remaining.
What it means: The Nets have officially clinched the no.7 seed in the Eastern Conference, setting up a first-round series with the defending champion Toronto Raptors, while the no.2 seed Clippers now hold just a 1.0 game lead over the Denver Nuggets.
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