Nightly Playoffs Preview: Celtics blow chance as Pacers move into tie, Suns let 1 slip away
Brian Spurlock-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 | X - Raptors | Wizards |
- The Bulls padded their cushion over the Raptors for third place with a furious 4th quarter in Toronto. Toronto clinched a playoff spot thanks to Celtics and Hornets losses.
- The Wizards wasted a season-high 34 points from John Wall, and blew a chance to gain ground on the Raptors for homecourt, with a last-second loss to the Pacers. It was their fourth straight defeat.
- The Heat knocked off the Celtics despite missing Hassan Whiteside and Dwyane Wade, putting two games between themselves and eighth place while staying within striking distance of the Bucks.
In the Mix
| Team | Games Behind |
|---|---|
| Pacers | - |
| Hornets | 0.5 |
| Nets | 0.5 |
- George Hill dropped 29 huge points, including the game-winning layup, to pull the Pacers into a virtual tie with the Celtics. The Celtics currently own the tiebreaker, but the teams will play one more time this season (April 1).
- The Nets won a crucial game against the Hornets to pull even in the standings, and both teams now sit a half-game back of the Celtics and Pacers.
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 Rockets closed the gap on the Grizzlies for second place, scratching out a win over the Pelicans while the Grizzlies got hammered by the Cavaliers. The Rockets are now just a game-and-a-half out of second.
- The Blazers halted a five-game losing skid with a come-from-behind win over the Jazz. They kept pace in the race for homecourt with the Clippers, who obliterated the hapless Knicks.
In the Mix
| Team | Games Behind |
|---|---|
| Suns | 3 |
| Pelicans | 3.5 |
- Both the Suns and Pelicans missed opportunities to pick up ground on the Thunder, who got thumped by the Spurs. It was a little more understandable for the Pelicans, who lost to a fearsome Rockets team. The Suns, inexplicably, fell to the Kings, ending their four-game winning streak and all but sinking their playoff hopes. With 10 games remaining and the Thunder holding the tiebreaker, three games is likely too big a gap to overcome.