The same should go for the safeguarding champs, who sat rotation gamers OG Anunoby and Serge Ibaka on Wednesday and have been cautious with minutes over the past few days. Head coach Nick Nurse will likely offer the majority of the Raptors regulars the day off.– Tim Bontemps.
Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers|4 p.m. ET.
These 2 groups fulfilled on Monday, and the Heat travelled to a comfortable win. With this now set as a first-round playoff series, anticipate both teams to rest their key players in preparation for their face-off starting early next week.– Bontemps.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Clippers|7:30 p.m. ET.
While Chris Paul will be taking on his old group, its hard to see him playing much. Same goes for Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. What all of that will imply is Reggie Jackson will get a vengeance game versus his old group– which most likely methods big numbers from him (if anyone is actually playing DFS on the last day of seeding video games).– Bontemps.
Houston Rockets vs. Philadelphia 76ers|9 p.m. ET.
The focus for these two teams wont be what occurs on the court, however instead what the health of 2 of their biggest stars is off of it. Joel Embiid left Wednesdays video game against Toronto since of a wrist injury, while Russell Westbrook remained Houstons loss to Indiana since of a strained quad.– Bontemps.
The San Antonio Spurs are tied for the NBA record of 22 successive playoff appearances. David Dow/NBAE by means of Getty ImagesAnalysis and intel.
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The playoff photo is beginning to take shape as the last week of seeding games continues.
West play-in forecasts: Suns ideal, Lillard magnificent, however who gets in?
Phoenix is 7-0, and Portland keeps winning. Here are the current projections for the four-team race.
The Wizards leave the bubble with a W.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.– The Washington Wizards became the first string to leave the NBA school Thursday– and did so on a high note.
After losing each of their very first 7 seeding games here inside the leagues bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort, the Wizards beat the Celtics 96-90 prior to immediately flying back to Washington. By the end of the day Thursday, a minimum of two other groups– the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans– will have joined them, and 2 others from amongst the four fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament– the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs– will see their seasons end, too.
For the Wizards, a win is a win– despite whether it came against a Celtics group that was resting its top 6 players in preparation for facing the Philadelphia 76ers in the preliminary of the playoffs next week.
” Well, I think we had a great experience here,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks stated. “We had a lot of good development, a lot of great bonding experience, a lot of positives came out of it … We matured a little bit these last 2 months together.
” Im pleased with it, and were all delighted about the next stage of our development, and right now we are going to go house and connect with our households and go from there.”.
— Tim Bontemps.
What Westbrooks injury indicates for Houstons playoff run.
An MRI Wednesday revealed a stretched quad muscle for the Rockets All-Star guard, whos now anticipated to miss out on a minimum of the start of the teams playoff series next week. How will the Rockets replace Westbrook and how much will they miss his existence?
ESPN NBA Insider Kevin Pelton breaks down whats next for Houston.
The Suns improved to a 7-0 record given that the NBA restart thanks in part to the play of Devin Booker.
Thursday nights must-see video game.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Brooklyn Nets|9 p.m. ET.
What will Damian Lillard do next? CJ McCollum is the just other player in Florida averaging 40 minutes per game as Portland has actually leaned on its one-two combination to keep the Blazers in playoff contention. Brooklyn is locked in as the No. 7 seed and Jacque Vaughn– training for a chance to continue on as the Nets head coach next season– has his group 5-2 total with 3 straight wins.
Extra video games.
Complete scoreboard for Thursday.
play1:47.
LeBrons historic streak will continue into 2020-21.
LeBron James scored 17 points in 15 minutes in Thursdays seeding round ending for the Los Angeles Lakers. Head coach Frank Vogel stated he wished to play James in the first half to “get him some work, some rhythm” with the Sacramento Kings game being the last chance for a tuneup before L.A.s playoff opener, most likely coming Tuesday.
While it wasnt the smoothest efficiency for the 17-year veteran– he missed out on a couple of point-blank efforts at the rim in the 2nd quarter he d definitely like to have back– he did protect a couple statistical accomplishments worth noting. His streak of scoring 10 points or more reached 995 games– hell formally take the streak, which began on Jan. 6, 2007, into next season with an opportunity to push it to 1,000 in the very first couple weeks of 2020-21.
And while his 4 helps on the day dipped his season average to 10.2 helps per game, he still led the league, making him his very first assists title of his career.
— Dave McMenamin.
LeBron & & AD cant stop laughing on the bench pic.twitter.com/8tGaTGUBMr— ESPN (@espn) August 13, 2020.
Not off the jabstep @DevinBook– Tyson Chandler (@tysonchandler) August 13, 2020.
Reserve had him on the initial step.
( via @Suns) pic.twitter.com/fmfaFJstIJ— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 13, 2020.
The Grindfather and Z-Bo remain in the building.
” Grit n Grind” legends Tony Allen and Zach Randolph were found in the virtual crowd during the Grizzlies last seeding video game. A win clinches them an area in the West play-in.
Fridays Must-See Games.
Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors|1:30 p.m. ET.
For both of these groups, the goal will be to get into the playoffs healthy. Denver, which has dealt with injuries throughout the bubble, will likely be extremely careful in this game as it waits on the return of wings Gary Harris and Will Barton.
#MemphisVsErrbody pic.twitter.com/ZwsDZzM7NS— FOX Sports Grizzlies (@GrizzliesOnFSSE) August 13, 2020.
Book had him on the very first action.
( by means of @Suns) pic.twitter.com/fmfaFJstIJ— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 13, 2020.
Updated West play-in standings.
0.5 GBT-9. 0.5 GB11. 0.5 GB.
MORE: NBA Western Conference play-in circumstances.
The race for the Western Conference play-in is nearing its thrilling conclusion. Now, all eyes are on the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Memphis Grizzlies punched their ticket to the play-in with a big win over a Milwaukee Bucks group playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the Phoenix Suns stayed perfect in the bubble with a 26-point success over the Dallas Mavericks.
Phoenix now has another task– root hard for the Brooklyn Nets. If the Trail Blazers fall tonight versus the Nets, the final play-in spot comes from the Suns. If the Trail Blazers win, the 8-0 beloveds of the bubble are sent home and the run continues for Damian Lillard & & Co.
Meanwhile, the early wins by Memphis and Phoenix ended the San Antonio Spurs 22-season playoff streak, which is tied for the longest in NBA history.
Heres the most recent on the standings, the video games to view Thursday and Friday, and everything you require to know. Examine back for highlights and updates throughout the day.
PAST BUBBLE INTEL: July 30
Ja Morant and Damian Lillard will attempt to lead their particular groups to a playoff play-in scenario on Thursday. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty ImagesLatest buzz
Booker leaves MKG in the dust
The Suns are combating to remain ideal in the bubble and make the West play-in. Pails like this will assist.
play0:23.
What were LeBron and advertisement laughing at?
The world might never ever understand.
LeBron James misses a couple wide-open layups in the 2nd quarter in the Lakers last game of the season.
CJ McCollum is the only other gamer in Florida averaging 40 minutes per video game as Portland has leaned on its one-two combo to keep the Blazers in playoff contention. Brooklyn is locked in as the No. 7 seed and Jacque Vaughn– training for a chance to continue on as the Nets head coach next season– has his group 5-2 general with 3 straight wins. With this now set as a first-round playoff series, anticipate both groups to rest their key players in preparation for their showdown beginning early next week. What all of that will indicate is Reggie Jackson will get a revenge game versus his old team– which likely means huge numbers from him (if anyone is really playing DFS on the last day of seeding video games). Joel Embiid left Wednesdays video game versus Toronto since of a wrist injury, while Russell Westbrook sat out Houstons loss to Indiana since of a stretched quad.
