NBA playoff push: What's at stake Sunday?
The 2015-16 season has hit the homestretch, and teams are jockeying for positioning, fighting for their postseason lives or going for records. Each day, ESPN.com will have a snapshot of the games affecting the NBA playoff picture. Here’s what’s at stake Sunday:
Hornets-Wizards, noon ET
What’s at stake
Playoff seeding: The Hornets are headed back to the playoffs for the second time in Steve Clifford’s three-year tenure. Where will they land? ESPN’s BPI gives the Hornets a 56.8 percent chance at the No. 6 seed, though they maintain a slim 2.8 percent chance to rise to No. 3.
What’s at stake
Playoff hopes: The Kobe farewell tour makes a stop in Houston, which in turn hopes it doesn’t bid its playoff hopes farewell courtesy of a vintage Mamba outburst. The Rockets have a 40.6 percent chance at the final berth, with a slight 1.6 percent chance at the West’s No. 7 seed.
What’s at stake
Playoff seeding: With either a Mavs win or Rockets loss, Dallas is assured a playoff berth. Once that happens, the most likely scenario sees Dirk Nowitzki & Co. headed for a date with No. 3 seed Oklahoma City (35 percent chance). The Clippers have the No. 4 seed nailed down, with a first-round series with Portland the most likely scenario (92.5 percent chance).
What’s at stake
Playoff hopes: Utah, which currently holds a one-game lead over ninth-place Houston, has a 68 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to the BPI. A Mavericks win or Rockets loss Sunday would leave only one available playoff spot in the West, for which the Jazz and Rockets would battle over the season’s final three days.
What’s at stake
Playoff clincher: The Pacers would secure a berth with a win over the hapless Nets. Indy’s chances of securing the No. 7 seed (and thus avoiding a near-certain first-round date with LeBron and the Cavs) now stand at 79.4 percent. A Pacers win would also end the Bulls’ playoff hopes, despite Chicago’s fourth-quarter heroics Saturday night against Cleveland.
What’s at stake
Playoff seeding: Securing a first-round home-court advantage is still within reach for the Heat, who could finish anywhere from No. 3 to No. 6 in the East. The odds say the Heat will most likely get the No. 5 spot (41.9 percent). A regular-season finale in Boston may ultimately be the final determinant.
What’s at stake
Playoff seeding: The Raptors have a 3.1 percent chance to win the East, needing to win their final three while the Cavs lose their last two. Unlikely, but were it to happen, count on some giddy Drake memes being unleashed.
