Wednesday, April 8
Boston Celtics @ Detroit Pistons
Celtics remaining schedule: @Pistons, @Cavaliers, Cavaliers, Raptors, @Bucks
Pistons remaining schedule: Celtics, Pacers, Hornets, @Cavaliers, @Knicks
A pair of sub-.500 teams fighting for a playoff berth, the Celtics and Pistons square off Wednesday in a rare appearance on ESPN. The Pistons have won six of their last 10 games, but would be officially eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Celtics. As for Brad Stevens, his team has surprisingly clung to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They sit one game ahead of the Indiana Pacers, but are just one game back from the Brooklyn Nets and three games back from the Milwaukee Bucks for the sixth seed.
New Orleans Pelicans @ Memphis Grizzlies
Pelicans remaining schedule: Warriors, @Grizzlies, Suns, @Rockets, @Timberwolves, Spurs
Grizzlies remaining schedule: Pelicans, @Jazz, @Clippers, @Warriors, Pacers
The Pelicans will grind out a grueling end to the regular season against the Grizzlies, who are just one game behind the Houston Rockets in the Southwest Division. They are second in the Southwest Division standings behind the Houston Rockets. The Grizzlies have been mediocre of late, winning five of their last 10 games. The chase for the Southwest Division title is on and the Grizzlies will likely have to win games on the road to achieve that goal.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks
Cavaliers remaining schedule: @Bucks, Celtics, @Celtics, Pistons, Wizards
Bucks remaining schedule: Cavaliers, @Knicks, Nets, @76ers, Celtics
Two current playoff teams, the Cavaliers and Bucks are separated by 12 games in the standings. The Cavs have won three consecutive games and eight of their last ten. One of the hottest teams in the second half of the season, David Blatt's squad could lock up the second seed and the division title with a win against the Bucks. The Bucks, on the other hand, are searching to get back above .500 after a rocky second half of the season. The fifth seed is out of reach and, having lost six of their last ten games, the Bucks are clinging to a two-and-a-half game lead over the Brooklyn Nets.
Houston Rockets @ San Antonio Spurs
Rockets remaining schedule: @Spurs, Spurs, Pelicans, @Hornets, Jazz
Spurs remaining schedule: @Thunder, Rockets, @Rockets, Suns, @Pelicans
The second-seed Houston Rockets have won three straight and eight of their last 10. They have a one-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies and a two-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the Southwest Division. The Rockets do not play the Grizzlies again, but they square off against the Spurs twice in three days as part of a home-and-home series to end division play.
Phoenix Suns @ Dallas Mavericks
Suns remaining schedule: @Hawks, @Mavericks, @Pelicans, @Spurs, Clippers
Mavericks remaining schedule: Suns, @Nuggets, @Lakers, Jazz, Trail Blazers
Wrapping up a busy Wednesday, the Suns will try to stay alive amidst a tough schedule to end the season. The next peak on their uphill battle will be the Dallas Mavericks, who are currently seven games ahead of them in the seventh spot in the Western Conference standings. Rajon Rondo and Amare' Stoudemire have not provided any extra oomph, however, and the Mavs have lost their ability to catch the Spurs for the sixth seed. Having lost six of their last 10 games, their task is now staving off the eighth seed, which could potentially be the Suns. Nonetheless, a win would likely result in a playoff berth for the Mavericks.
Thursday, April 9
Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat
Bulls remaining schedule: @Magic, @Heat, 76ers, @Nets, Hawks
Heat remaining schedule: Hornets, Bulls, Raptors, Magic, @76ers
A loss for the Bulls would allow the Cavaliers to clinch the second seed in the East. They are currently four games behind the Cavs and just one game ahead of the Toronto Raptors and two games ahead of the Washington Wizards. With the return of Derrick Rose looming, they will be seeing red as they attempt to steal the Central Division title from the Cavaliers. The Heat, meanwhile, have a tougher task of making the playoffs. They are hardly coping with the absence of Chris Bosh, having lost four straight games and seven of their last ten.
Portland Trail Blazers @ Golden State Warriors
Trail Blazers remaining schedule: Timberwolves, @Warriors, Jazz, @Thunder, @Mavericks
Warriors remaining schedule: @Pelicans, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Nuggets
While the rolling Warriors have locked up the top seed in the West, the Blazers have won the Northwest Division, but will be looking to move up in the standings and avoid a first round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Three games behind the second-seeded Rockets, that feat is certainly doable, but three tough road games could be the kryptonite for the Wesley Matthews-less Trail Blazers. If the Warriors choose to rest their starters, that would only help their cause.
Friday, April 10
Washington Wizards @ Brooklyn Nets
Wizards remaining schedule: @76ers, @Nets, Hawks, @Pacers, @Cavaliers
Nets remaining schedule: Hawks, Wizards, @Bucks, Bulls, Magic
The Wizards have not been mentioned to this point, but that does not mean their schedule is not grueling. The Nets, on the other hand, have won nine of their last eleven games and are seventh in the standings, just two games behind the Milwaukee Bucks. Four of their final five games are home at the Barclays Center. Any playoff matchup for the bottom three teams in the conference will not be favorable, so the Nets' primary concern should be securing a playoff berth.
Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Pelicans
Suns remaining schedule: @Hawks, @Mavericks, @Pelicans, @Spurs, Clippers
Pelicans remaining schedule: Warriors, @Grizzlies, Suns, @Rockets, @Timberwolves, Spurs
The battle for the eighth seed may come down to the wire and, if nothing changes, these two teams will be on the outside looking in. However, the Suns need to win games to stave off elimination before even meeting the Pelicans. Playing on the road could be the death of the Suns and Pelicans.
Saturday, April 11
Toronto Raptors @ Miami Heat
Raptors remaining schedule: @Magic, @Heat, @Celtics, Hornets
Heat remaining schedule: Hornets, Bulls, Raptors, Magic, @76ers
The Raptors have clinched the Atlantic Division title and are currently seeded fourth in the East. They are just one game behind the Chicago Bulls and four behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their remaining schedule is not supremely difficult, but four of their last five games on the road could present challenges for a Raptors team that is clinging to a one-game lead ahead of the Washington Wizards.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Clippers
Grizzlies remaining schedule: @Jazz, @Clippers, @Warriors, Pacers
Clippers remaining schedule: Lakers, Grizzlies, Nuggets, @Suns
The Grizzlies and Clippers are separated by a half game in the Western Conference standings. With Portland having its division, reside in between, making the Clippers task of moving up a bit more difficult. Both the Griz and Clips will likely be fighting for seeding down to the wire and will not get an opportunity to rest starters.
Sunday, April 12
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Indiana Pacers
Thunder remaining schedule: Kings, @Pacers, Trail Blazers, @Timberwolves
Pacers remaining schedule: @Knicks, @Pistons, Thunder, Wizards, @Grizzlies
Two teams fighting for a playoff spot in opposite leagues, this game could be one of the more intriguing on the second-to-last day of the regular season. With the return of Paul George, the Pacers may have moved into a playoff position by the time this matchup rolls around. Meanwhile, the return of Serge Ibaka will emerge onto the horizon for the Thunder as they attempt to lock up the eighth seed in the West.
Wednesday, April 15
San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans
Will the Spurs snag the Southwest Division title? Will the Pelicans clinch a playoff berth?
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Will the Cavaliers have the Central Division locked up? Will the Wizards have moved up in the standings?
Indiana Pacers @ Memphis Grizzlies
Will Paul George push the Pacers into the playoffs? Will the Grizzlies steal the Southwest Division from the Rockets and Spurs?