What's at stake for the 12 NBA teams in action during Day 8 of the NBA restart?

Benyam Kidane

What's at stake for the 12 NBA teams in action during Day 8 of the NBA restart? image

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.

STANDINGS

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

Standings as of Aug. 6
  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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Benyam Kidane

Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.