The race towards the playoffs continues in Orlando and on Day 8 we've got a busy six-game slate, with plenty of post-season implications.
From the Western Conference logjam in the middle of the pack to the race for the eighth seed and teams jostling for position in the East, there's plenty to keep track of during yet another busy day of NBA action.
What's at stake for the 12 teams in action? We've got you covered with a rundown below.
All win probabilities are per FiveThirtyEight's NBA Predictions model. All times IST.
Race for the eighth seed
Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans — 11:30 p.m. (Aug. 6th)
Win probability: Pelicans – 62%
The Pelicans and Kings are just separated by 1.0 game in the standings as both teams continue their push towards the eighth seed.
Through three seeding games in Orlando, the Kings have gone 0-3 and will be desperate for a win against their Western Conference rivals, while the (1-2) Pelicans can inch closer to the ninth-seed Portland Trail Blazers, who are 1.0 game up in the standings.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets — 5:30 a.m.
Win probability: 76ers – 59%
With the Pelicans, Spurs, and Suns breathing down the Blazers' neck in the standings, Damian Lillard and co. will be looking to build on their 2-1 record in Orlando. The Memphis Grizzlies, following their 0-4 start, are still the current holders of the eighth seed and hold just a 1.0 game lead o the Blazers.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets can make ground on the second-seed Clippers, who are just 0.5 of a game in front in the standings. With Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic firing on all cylinders, the Nuggets are coming off two big wins over the Thunder and Spurs.
Jostling for positions in the East
Indiana Pacers vs. Phoenix Suns — 1:30 a.m.
Win probability: Pacers – 51%
Thanks to T.J. Warren's explosive start in Orlando, the Pacers find themselves on the heels of the fourth-seed Miami Heat, who have seen their lead cut to just 1.0 game. They face the Heat twice next week, so there's plenty riding on each Pacer game leading up to those matchups.
Meanwhile, the red-hot Suns have kept their playoff hopes alive with their 3-0 start in Orlando. For them, more than any other team in the race for the West's eighth seed, every game matters.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks — 1:30 a.m.
Win probability: Bucks – 71%
The Bucks are just one win away from clinching the no.1 seed in the Eastern Conference but don't expect things to be straightforward, considering the Heat have already beaten the Bucks twice in two games this season.
Miami is currently 2.0 games behind the third-seed Boston Celtics and 1.0 game up on the Indiana Pacers and will be without Jimmy Butler for this game, while Goran Dragic remains questionable to play.
Western Conference logjam
LA Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks — 4:00 a.m.
Win probability: Clippers – 66%
A likely first-round playoff matchup is on the horizon for these two teams.
The Mavericks can still climb up the standings, with the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder 2.5 games ahead in the Western Conference.
The Clippers are 1-2 through three games in Orlando and will be looking to bounce back after losing to the Suns at the buzzer in their last game. The pressure is on, with the Nuggets closing in on the second seed, just 0.5 of a game back in the standings.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets — 6:30 a.m.
Win probability: Rockets – 53%
Following the Jazz's win over the Grizzlies, the Rockets have slid down to sixth in the Western Conference, but are just half a game back of Utah in fourth, The logjam in the middle of the West is going to go right down to the wire.
The Lakers have already secured their spot at the top of the West, but with Houston jostling for position in the middle of the pack, we could see these teams lock horns in the second round of the post-season.
Current standings
| EAST | WEST | ||||||||
| Team | W | L | GB | Team | W | L | GB | ||
| 1 | x - Milwaukee Bucks | 54 | 14 | - | 1 | x - Los Angeles Lakers | 51 | 16 | - |
| 2 | x - Toronto Raptors | 49 | 18 | 4.5 | 2 | x - LA Clippers | 45 | 22 | 6 |
| 3 | x - Boston Celtics | 45 | 23 | 9 | 3 | x - Denver Nuggets | 45 | 23 | 6.5 |
| 4 | x - Miami Heat | 43 | 25 | 11 | 4 | x - Utah Jazz | 43 | 25 | 8.5 |
| 5 | x - Indiana Pacers | 42 | 26 | 12 | 5 | x - Oklahoma City Thunder | 42 | 25 | 9 |
| 6 | x - Philadelphia 76ers | 41 | 27 | 13 | 6 | x - Houston Rockets | 42 | 25 | 9 |
| 7 | Brooklyn Nets | 32 | 36 | 22 | 7 | x - Dallas Mavericks | 41 | 29 | 11.5 |
| 8 | Orlando Magic | 32 | 37 | 22.5 | 8 | Memphis Grizzlies | 32 | 37 | 20 |
| 9 | Washington Wizards | 24 | 44 | 30.0 | 9 | Portland Trail Blazers | 31 | 38 | 21 |
| 10 | San Antonio Spurs | 29 | 38 | 22 | |||||
| 11 | New Orleans Pelicans | 29 | 38 | 22 | |||||
| 12 | Phoenix Suns | 29 | 39 | 22.5 | |||||
| 13 | Sacramento Kings | 28 | 39 | 23 |
x - Clinched Playoffs Berth
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