With each slate of games, the race for the final spot in the Western Conference seems to get tighter. The same can be said for the pack of teams fighting for seeds in the middle of the West standings.
The East is no different. Although the top seed is locked up by the Milwaukee Bucks, the rest still is mathematically, up in the air.
Day 9 of the seeding games in Orlando is the sixth straight six-game slate. 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 ET.
Race for West's 8th seed
Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs - 10:30 p.m. (Aug. 7)
Win probability: Jazz - 69%
After starting the season's restart with a couple of wins, the Spurs have dropped their next two.
Heading into this contest, the Spurs are two games behind the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies and 1.5 games behind the ninth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers while holding a slim 0.5 game margin over the Kings and Pelicans behind them. A win would do their cause a lot of good.
Through four games, the Jazz are 2-2 as well. Currently fifth in the West, but tied with the Rockets on record, the Jazz could jump them momentarily with a win. It would also help them extend/maintain (depends on whether OKC wins or loses later in the day) their lead over the sixth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently trail them by 0.5 games.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies - 1:30 a.m.
Win probability: Thunder - 73%
The Grizzlies, owners of the eighth seed in the West prior to the season restart, have yet to win in the bubble which has played a huge role in the race for that final spot being so close. Adding to their woes is their recent announcement that young star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. is ruled out for the remaining games.
With four games to go, they hold only a slim margin of half a game over the Blazers for the 8th seed. They must win every game going forward to be able to participate in the play-in let alone be the 8th seed.
On the other hand, the Thunder are in a logjam of their own. Currently sitting at sixth, they are only 0.5 games behind the Rockets for the fourth seed.
Sacramento Kings vs. Brooklyn Nets - 2:30 a.m.
Win probability: Kings - 69%
After a 0-3 start, the Kings kept their playoffs alive in the race for the 8th seed with their win over the Pelicans. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, they could make-up more ground in the West as they face-off in a winnable game against an East team with a pretty similar record as theirs.
Meanwhile, for the Nets, a playoff berth is more or less confirmed given their eight-game lead over the Wizards. The result of the remaining games would only determine their seed - 7th or 8th.
Washington Wizards vs. New Orleans Pelicans - 5:30 a.m.
Win probability: Pelicans - 78%
Their 0-4 start coupled with the current deficit of 7.5 games to the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic, essentially means the Wizards are eliminated from the playoffs.
It's a different story altogether for the Pelicans. Although they have gone 1-3 in their four games, which currently has them 13th in the West and last among the teams competing for the eighth seed, they have very winnable four games ahead of them. Watch out for the Pelicans to possibly rise up the standings in the second week of the seeding games.
Games impacting the East standings
Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers - 4:00 a.m.
Win probability: 76ers - 77%
The Magic, currently in the eighth seed, are only 0.5 games behind the Nets. As I mentioned earlier, the results of the remaining games for the Magic and Nets will only determine the seeding - 7th or 8th - nothing more.
On the other hand, the 76ers would look to make a run at the Pacers, who currently hold 0.5 game lead for the fifth seed. So far, they are 1-2 in the bubble and even with Ben Simmons being ruled day-to-day for the remaining portion of the season, the 76ers do have a mathematical shot for the 5th seed.
Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors - 6:30 a.m.
Win probability: Celtics- 56%
Mathematically, the Celtics still have a chance at the Raptors' second seed. However, that's highly unlikely. The defending champions are unbeaten in the bubble and hold a 4.5 games lead over the Celtics with five games left to play.
Boston could clinch the season series with a win in this one but the deficit might be too much to overcome.
Current standings
| EAST | WEST | ||||||||
| Team | W | L | GB | Team | W | L | GB | ||
| 1 | x - Milwaukee Bucks | 55 | 14 | - | 1 | x - Los Angeles Lakers | 51 | 17 | - |
| 2 | x - Toronto Raptors | 49 | 18 | 5 | 2 | x - LA Clippers | 46 | 22 | 5 |
| 3 | x - Boston Celtics | 45 | 23 | 9.5 | 3 | x - Denver Nuggets | 45 | 24 | 6.5 |
| 4 | x - Miami Heat | 43 | 26 | 12 | 4 | x - Houston Rockets | 43 | 25 | 8 |
| 5 | x - Indiana Pacers | 42 | 27 | 13 | 5 | x - Utah Jazz | 43 | 25 | 8 |
| 6 | x - Philadelphia 76ers | 41 | 27 | 13.5 | 6 | x - Oklahoma City Thunder | 42 | 25 | 8.5 |
| 7 | Brooklyn Nets | 32 | 36 | 22.5 | 7 | x - Dallas Mavericks | 41 | 30 | 11.5 |
| 8 | Orlando Magic | 32 | 37 | 23 | 8 | Memphis Grizzlies | 32 | 37 | 19.5 |
| 9 | Washington Wizards | 24 | 44 | 30.5 | 9 | Portland Trail Blazers | 32 | 38 | 20 |
| 10 | Phoenix Suns | 30 | 39 | 21.5 | |||||
| 11 | San Antonio Spurs | 29 | 38 | 21.5 | |||||
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 29 | 39 | 22 | |||||
| 13 | New Orleans Pelicans | 29 | 39 | 22 |
x - clinched playoff berth
The views on this page do not reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.
