We are just two days away from the conclusion of the NBA’s regular season, but the playoff picture is far from complete. The real intrigue lies in the Eastern Conference, where the Raptors, Hawks, Magic, 76ers and Hornets would all love to skip having to participate in next week’s Play-In Tournament. In the West, we know the six teams that are already set to play in the playoffs, and we know the four teams that will play in the Play-In Tournament.
Below, we’ll take a look at several teams that will have a ton at stake this weekend.
Toronto Raptors (+40000 NBA Title odds)
The Raptors cannot afford to slip up this weekend. Toronto (45-35) currently holds the 5 seed in the East but it is tied with the Hawks, record-wise, and is just one game up on the Magic. The Raptors are only two games up on the 76ers and Hornets.
Darko Rajokovic’s squad will face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden tonight. Toronto is a +6.5 underdog.
The Knicks still have plenty to play for as they could still theoretically catch the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the East. So, this will be far from a gimme game for the Raptors.
Toronto then finishes its season Sunday at home against the lowly 20-60 Nets.
Atlanta Hawks (+15000 NBA Title odds)
The Hawks (45-35) are clinging to the 6 seed in the East, and would obviously love to avoid the Play-In tourney.
Atlanta is home against the Cavaliers (Hawks -7.5) tonight, and it’s tough to judge how motivated the Cavs will be. Cleveland currently holds the No. 4 seed in the East, but could still push the Knicks for the 3 seed. That may not be the wisest choice for Cleveland, however, as many believe the 4 seed is the preferred seed. By getting the 3 seed, the Cavs would most likely have to face a rejuvenated Celtics squad in Round 2. The 4 seed would most likely result in a second round playoff matchup with the No. 1 seed Pistons, a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff series since the George W. Bush administration.
So, Atlanta may luck out Friday night and get a Cavs team perfectly content on getting some rest for its stars. The Hawks will then close their regular season on Sunday in Miami against the Heat.
The Heat have lost two in a row and seem resigned to the idea that they’ll be the 10 seed in the East and have to win two games in the Play-In to make the playoff field.
Orlando Magic (+20000 NBA Title odds)
The Magic (44-36) are currently the 7 seed, and have been one of the streakiest teams in the NBA of late. Orlando endured a six-game losing streak in March, but is currently riding a four-game win streak heading into tonight’s matchup with the Bulls in Chicago (Magic -15). Chicago has won two games in a row, but that comes with the caveat that they both came at the expense of the lowly Wizards. Prior to those two wins, the Bulls had lost seven games in a row.
Orlando will then wrap up its season Sunday night in Boston against a Celtics team that will likely be resting many of its starters. A Magic vs. Celtics first round matchup is a very real possibility, so the Celtics might not “show much” against the Magic in an effort to save their A-game for the postseason.
The Magic are -300 to make the NBA Playoffs.
Philadelphia 76ers (+10000 NBA Title odds)
There is always another shoe to drop when it comes to the Sixers (43-37).
Joel Embiid was just recently regaining his MVP form, Paul George was back from suspension, and Philly was prepared to be the proverbial “team that no one wants to play” in the Eastern Conference playoffs. But Embiid had to have an emergency appendectomy on Philly’s road trip this week, and his status moving forward is unclear.
The Sixers are also on a three-game losing streak, but they may be able to salvage something during the final stretch of the regular season as they’ll play two teams that have already been eliminated from contention. Nick Nurse’s crew will play at Indiana tonight (76ers -15), and then wrap up Sunday at home against the Bucks.
Philly is currently the 8 seed in the East. The Sixers are -220 to make the playoffs at Fanatics Sportsbook.
Charlotte Hornets (+10000 NBA Title odds)
The Hornets (43-37) have an identical record to the 76ers. Charlotte is one game behind the Magic for the 7 seed, and two games behind the Hawks and Raptors for the 5 and 6 seeds.
The Hornets would no doubt love to climb out of the 9/10 game, as they would have to win two Play-In games to advance to the postseason.
Charles Lee’s group could catch a break in its final two games as they’ll play two playoff-bound teams that might opt to rest their key players. The Hornets will host the No. 1 seed Pistons (Hornets -5.5) on Friday before wrapping up their regular season Sunday night at MSG against the Knicks.
The Hornets are -115 to make the playoffs at Fanatics Sportsbook
(All odds courtesy of Fanataics Sportsbook at time of publication.).