Skip to content

Nightly Playoffs Preview: Trail Blazers and Wizards clinch, Celtics move back into 8th

Joe Camporeale-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 30:

Eastern Conference

Matchup Home Visitor
1 vs. 8 Z - Hawks Celtics
2 vs. 7 X - Cavaliers Heat
3 vs. 6 X - Bulls Bucks
4 vs. 5 Y - Raptors X - Wizards
  • The Wizards were idle, but clinched their second consecutive playoff berth after the Hornets fell to the Celtics.
  • Boston climbed back into eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a big win in Charlotte. The Celtics are tied with the Nets in the "games behind" column and the Nets have one less loss, but Boston is a couple percentage points ahead (.446-.444).
  • With a 101-88 loss to the East-leading Hawks, their 14th loss in 19 games, the Bucks' lead over the Heat for the No. 6 seed shrunk to 1.5 games.
  • The Raptors edged the Rockets behind a career-high 42 points from DeMar DeRozan to pull within a game of the Bulls for the No. 3 seed. The win also moved Toronto, which plays its final eight contests against losing teams, three games clear of the fifth-place Wizards.

In the Mix

Team Games Behind
Nets -
Pacers 0.5
Hornets 1.5
  • The Hornets' disappointing home loss to Boston moved them one loss behind the Celtics and Pacers and two losses behind the Nets, dropping their playoff chances below 20 percent, according to ESPN's Hollinger odds.
  • The Nets and Pacers were both off Monday before meeting up for a huge clash in Brooklyn on Tuesday. 

Western Conference

Matchup Home Visitor
1 vs. 8 Z - Warriors Thunder
2 vs. 7 X - Grizzlies Mavericks
3 vs. 6 X - Rockets Spurs
4 vs. 5 X - Trail Blazers X - Clippers
  • The Trail Blazers clinched their second consecutive berth by thumping the Suns. Their next task is capturing the Northwest Division title, which should come in a matter of days. Portland holds a 6.5-game lead over the Thunder with nine contests remaining. 
  • The Rockets' stay in first place of the Southwest Division was shortlived. A loss to the Raptors, coupled with the Grizzlies' win over the Kings, moved Memphis back into the top spot. 

In the Mix

Team Games Behind
Pelicans 2.5
Suns 4.5
  • If the Suns' hopes for a playoff spot didn't come to an end after Sunday's loss to the Thunder, it did Monday. Phoenix looked liked a team that knew it had little-to-no chance, getting steamrolled by 23 points to Portland. 
  • The Pelicans are the last team standing between the Thunder and the playoffs. While New Orleans' task is daunting, down 2.5 games with nine contests remaining, it still has a chance - 9.1 percent to be exact - of getting in. The Pelicans must take advantage of upcoming games against the Lakers and Sacramento, and hope the Thunder collapse due to their difficult schedule. Oklahoma City plays the Mavericks, Grizzlies and Rockets this week.  

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox