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Nightly Playoffs Preview: Warriors clinch division, Bucks snap skid, Thunder increase lead

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Every night from now through April 15, the end of the NBA regular season, theScore will bring you potential playoff matchups - and teams still in the mix to qualify - based on the final nightly standings.

Here's where things stand after March 24: 

Eastern Conference

Matchup Home Visitor
1 vs. 8 Y - Hawks Celtics
2 vs. 7 X - Cavaliers Heat
3 vs. 6 X - Bulls Bucks
4 vs. 5 Raptors Wizards
  • The reeling Raptors fell to fourth in the conference after falling to the Pistons on Tuesday. Toronto, which gets a Bulls team Wednesday that leapfrogged it in the standings, has lost 12 of its last 17 games. A win over the Bulls would help the Raptors clinch a playoff berth for the second consecutive season. 
  • In dramatic finish, Khris Middleton drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to sink the Heat and snap the Bucks' six-game skid. The win helped the sixth-place Bucks move 2.5 games ahead of Miami. 

In the Mix

Team Games Behind
Hornets 0.5
Pacers 1
Nets 1.5
  • The Nets and Hornets hook up for a crucial game Wednesday in Charlotte. The winner will claim the tiebreaker between the two playoff-hopeful teams. 
  • One of the Pacers and Wizards will get back on track Wednesday. Indiana, losers of six straight, will head to Washington to face a Wizards team that has lost three in a row. 

Western Conference 

Matchup Home Visitor
1 vs. 8 Y - Warriors Thunder
2 vs. 7 X - Grizzlies Mavericks
3 vs. 6 Rockets Spurs
4 vs. 5 Trail Blazers Clippers
  • The Warriors completed the inevitable Tuesday, beating the Trail Blazers to win the Pacific Division. It marked Golden State's first division title since the 1975-76 season.
  • Another huge game from Russell Westbrook helped the Thunder increase their lead for the final playoff spot in the West. Oklahoma City, looking for its sixth consecutive playoff appearance, has an 87.6 percent chance of getting in, according to ESPN's playoff odds.

In the Mix

Team Games Behind
Suns 3
Pelicans 3.5
  • The Suns and Pelicans can only hope the Thunder come out sluggish against the Spurs on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday. Phoenix has a prime opportunity to make up ground, as it gets the Kings on Wednesday, while New Orleans hosts the Rockets. Both the Pelicans and Suns have less than a 10 percent chance of making the playoffs.

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