theScore's NBA team simulated the 2018-19 regular season using the NBA 2K19 video game. Injuries and trades were turned off, although long-term injuries to noteworthy players like DeMarcus Cousins, Kristaps Porzingis, and Dejounte Murray were accounted for.
Here are our results:
NBA All-Stars (Team Stephen vs. Team Giannis)
Eastern Conference
| Team | Player |
|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | Kyrie Irving |
| Toronto Raptors | Kyle Lowry |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Toronto Raptors | Kawhi Leonard |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Joel Embiid |
| - | - |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Kevin Love |
| Detroit Pistons | Andre Drummond |
| Washington Wizards | Bradley Beal |
| Washington Wizards | John Wall |
| Boston Celtics | Gordon Hayward |
| Indiana Pacers | Victor Oladipo |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Ben Simmons |
Notable snubs: Al Horford (BOS), Kemba Walker (CHA), Blake Griffin (DET), Kristaps Porzingis (NYK), Jayson Tatum (BOS), Goran Dragic (MIA)
Western Conference
| Team | Player |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | Stephen Curry |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Russell Westbrook |
| Los Angeles Lakers | LeBron James |
| Golden State Warriors | Kevin Durant |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Anthony Davis |
| - | - |
| Houston Rockets | James Harden |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Jimmy Butler |
| Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokic |
| San Antonio Spurs | LaMarcus Aldridge |
| Houston Rockets | Chris Paul |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Paul George |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns |
Notable snubs: Damian Lillard (POR), Draymond Green (GSW), Klay Thompson (GSW), Donovan Mitchell (UTA), Rudy Gobert (UTA)
Final Standings
Eastern Conference
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto Raptors | 68-14 |
| 2 | Boston Celtics | 52-30 |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | 50-32 |
| 4 | Milwaukee Bucks | 48-34 |
| 5 | Miami Heat | 41-41 |
| 6 | Brooklyn Nets | 41-41 |
| 7 | Atlanta Hawks | 41-41 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 39-43 |
| 9 | Detroit Pistons | 38-44 |
| 10 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 37-45 |
| 11 | Chicago Bulls | 36-46 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 36-46 |
| 13 | Washington Wizards | 34-48 |
| 14 | Orlando Magic | 27-55 |
| 15 | New York Knicks | 24-58 |
- With the addition of Kawhi Leonard, Toronto sets a new franchise record for wins in a season, breaking their previous mark set in 2017-18 by nine victories.
- Biggest jump in East: Hawks (+17)
- Biggest dip in East: Cavaliers (-13)
Western Conference
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 61-21 |
| 2 | Golden State Warriors | 58-24 |
| 3 | Houston Rockets | 58-24 |
| 4 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 45-37 |
| 5 | Portland Trail Blazers | 44-38 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Lakers | 43-39 |
| 7 | Dallas Mavericks | 43-39 |
| 8 | Utah Jazz | 42-40 |
| 9 | Los Angeles Clippers | 38-44 |
| 10 | Denver Nuggets | 34-48 |
| 11 | Phoenix Suns | 34-48 |
| 12 | San Antonio Spurs | 33-49 |
| 13 | New Orleans Pelicans | 33-49 |
| 14 | Memphis Grizzlies | 28-54 |
| 15 | Sacramento Kings | 24-58 |
- The Spurs fail to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1996-97, ending their historic streak at 21 years.
- Biggest jump in West: Mavericks (+19)
- Biggest dip in West: Pelicans (-15)
Statistical Leaders
Points: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (38)
Note: Curry's points per game average is the highest by a single player since Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 for the Chicago Bulls in 1986-87.
Rebounds: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons (14)
Note: This marks the sixth year in a row that Drummond has finished either first or second in the Association in rebounds per game.
Assists: Chris Paul, Houston Rockets (11.1)
Note: Paul finishes as the league's assists leader for the fifth time in his career, joining Oscar Robertson, Bob Cousy, John Stockton, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash as the only only players to do so that many times.
Year-End Awards
Most Valuable Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Note: Curry set a new league record by converting 558 3-pointers, shattering his previous record of 402 set in 2015-16.
Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Most Improved Player: D'Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
Sixth Man of the Year: Tyreke Evans, Indiana Pacers
Coach of the Year: Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
Note: Nurse becomes the third coach in franchise history to win Coach of the Year, joining Sam Mitchell (2006-07) and Dwane Casey (2017-18).
2018-19 NBA Playoffs
- The upstart Hawks shockingly advance all the way to the Eastern Conference finals after bouncing two favorites in the Celtics and Sixers.
- The Raptors go unscathed en route to their first-ever Finals berth, sweeping the Pacers, Heat, and Hawks.
- The Lakers' first-round exit at the hands of the Rockets is the earliest a LeBron-led team has been eliminated from the playoffs.
- In a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals, the reigning two-time champion Warriors fall short in six games to the Rockets in the second round.
2018-19 NBA Champions: Toronto Raptors
NBA Finals Most Valuable Player: Kawhi Leonard
Note: Leonard becomes the 12th player to win Finals Most Valuable Player on multiple occasions, joining a list which includes Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
(images courtesy: NBA 2K19)
