While recent NBA games might have lacked excitement due to tanking teams and top seeds resting players, the final two weeks of the regular season promise compelling storylines. The Western Conference is incredibly tight, with teams constantly shifting positions, and the Eastern Conference features a strong battle for playoff spots outside the play-in tournament. Additionally, several players are on track to achieve remarkable statistical feats.

As the playoffs approach, let`s examine what`s at stake and the crucial games to watch in these last two weeks.

Contents
  1. Confirmed Playoff Teams
  2. Likely Standings
  3. Key Playoff Races
  4. Pacers, Pistons, and Bucks
  5. Magic, Hawks, Bulls, and Heat
  6. Western Conference Chaos
  7. Mavericks, Kings, and Suns
  8. Lottery Focus
  9. Wizards, Jazz, Hornets, and Pelicans
  10. 76ers` Draft Pick Strategy
  11. Statistical Achievements to Watch
  12. Jokic`s Historic Season
  13. Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Elite Scoring Company
  14. Daniels` Steal Rate

Confirmed Playoff Teams

  • Oklahoma City Thunder: Clinched No. 1 seed in the West.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: Clinched a playoff spot in the East.
  • Boston Celtics: Clinched a playoff spot in the East (and Atlantic Division).
  • New York Knicks: Clinched a playoff spot in the East.

Likely Standings

Eastern Conference

  • No. 1: Cavaliers
  • No. 2: Celtics
  • No. 3: Knicks
  • Nos. 4-6: Pacers, Pistons, and Bucks (in some order)
  • Play-In Teams: Magic, Hawks, Bulls, Heat (in some order)

Western Conference

  • No. 1: Thunder (clinched)
  • Nos. 2-8: Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers, Grizzlies, Warriors, Timberwolves, Clippers (in some order)

Key Playoff Races

Pacers, Pistons, and Bucks

These three Eastern Conference teams are vying for better playoff seeding. The No. 4 seed guarantees home-court advantage in the first round, motivating each team to secure it. While the Pacers and Pistons could potentially reach the No. 3 seed, it`s less probable. Indiana`s schedule includes games against the league`s bottom three teams, which could help their positioning.

Key Matchups:

  • April 11: Bucks at Pistons
  • April 13: Pistons at Bucks

Magic, Hawks, Bulls, and Heat

The Play-In Tournament picture in the East is heating up with Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami competing for seeding. The No. 7 seed is particularly advantageous, offering home court for both potential play-in games and a matchup against the No. 2 seed in the first round of the playoffs.

Key Matchups:

  • April 8: Hawks at Magic
  • April 9: Heat at Bulls
  • April 13: Magic at Hawks

Western Conference Chaos

The Western Conference standings are incredibly close, with only 6.5 games separating the 2nd and 8th seeds. The race for the No. 2 seed is likely between the Rockets and Nuggets, though the Lakers or Grizzlies could also contend. The Warriors, Timberwolves, and Clippers are less likely to reach the top two, but seeds 4-8 are still very much in flux and could be any order of Lakers, Grizzlies, Warriors, Wolves, and Clippers.

Key Matchups:

  • April 1: Timberwolves at Nuggets
  • April 1: Warriors at Grizzlies
  • April 3: Warriors at Lakers
  • April 4: Nuggets at Warriors
  • April 6: Rockets at Warriors
  • April 9: Rockets at Clippers
  • April 10: Timberwolves at Grizzlies
  • April 11: Rockets at Lakers
  • April 11: Grizzlies at Nuggets
  • April 13: Nuggets at Rockets
  • April 13: Clippers at Warriors

Mavericks, Kings, and Suns

The battle for the 9th and 10th seeds in the West is intense, as one of the Mavericks, Kings, or Suns will miss the playoffs entirely. These teams are fighting hard for a play-in tournament spot. The 9th and 10th seeds will face off in a single-elimination game, with the winner playing the loser of the 7-8 game for the final playoff spot and a first-round series against the top-seeded Thunder.

Key Matchup:

  • April 13: Suns at Kings

Lottery Focus

Wizards, Jazz, Hornets, and Pelicans

While college star Cooper Flagg aims for an NCAA title, teams hoping to draft high are focused on maximizing their lottery odds. The bottom three teams have the best chance at the No. 1 pick (14% each). Finishing fourth still offers a 12.5% chance. Washington, Utah, Charlotte, and New Orleans are in a race to be in the bottom spots, playing less recognizable players to increase their chances in the lottery. The Pelicans are less likely to be in the bottom three but are still in the mix.

76ers` Draft Pick Strategy

The Philadelphia 76ers are prioritizing keeping their top-six protected draft pick. If it falls outside the top six, it goes to Oklahoma City from a 2020 trade. Philadelphia has sidelined key players like Joel Embiid and Paul George to improve their lottery odds. They are competing with the Brooklyn Nets for a better lottery position, hoping to secure a valuable asset for their future.

Statistical Achievements to Watch

Jokic`s Historic Season

Nikola Jokić is on track to become only the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. Remarkably, Jokić is doing it with a significantly higher true shooting percentage than either of the others, showcasing incredible efficiency while averaging near a 30-point triple-double.

Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Elite Scoring Company

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is poised to become just the third guard in NBA history to average at least 32 points per game on 50% shooting or better, joining Michael Jordan and George Gervin. SGA will be the only point guard to achieve this, and his true shooting percentage will exceed that of Jordan and Gervin in their respective seasons.

Daniels` Steal Rate

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels could become the first player in 30 years to average at least three steals per game (minimum 65 games played). The last player to do so was Nate McMillan in 1994. Daniels has a significant lead in steals this season and is likely to reach 220 steals, becoming only the 30th player in NBA history to achieve this milestone.