The ultimate weekend of the 2023-21 NBA common season has arrived, and there’s nonetheless loads to play for. We now know the 20 groups which have clinched both a playoff berth or a spot within the play-in event, however only some seeds are locked up, which can make for an interesting previous couple of days.
Right here’s a take a look at the most important takeaways from Friday night time within the NBA:
Sixers clinch No. 1 spot in East
After getting swept out of the playoffs within the first spherical final season, the Sixers made some huge adjustments within the offseason. Doc Rivers was employed as the brand new coach, whereas Daryl Morey was introduced in as president to take cost of the entrance workplace. These two shortly set about reshaping the roster, bringing within the likes of Seth Curry, Danny Inexperienced, George Hill and Dwight Howard.
And whereas they nonetheless have some issues to show within the postseason, it’s been a smashing success to date. After their dominant 122-97 win over the Magic on Friday night time, the Sixers at the moment are 48-23 and have clinched the No. 1 seed within the Japanese Convention for the primary time since Allen Iverson and Co. did it in 2001. As many will bear in mind, that’s additionally the final time the Sixers made the Finals.
The Sixers will now await the outcomes of the play-in event to be taught their opponent for the primary spherical of the playoffs. It will likely be both the Celtics, Hornets, Pacers or Wizards. Talking of…
Wizards earn play-in spot
Previous to their sport towards the Cavaliers on Friday night time, the Wizards held a ceremony to honor Russell Westbrook for passing Oscar Robertson for essentially the most triple-doubles in NBA historical past. A couple of hours later, he added one other one to his identify, and the Wizards earned a spot within the play-in event.
Westbrook was at it once more, carving up the Cavaliers for 21 factors, 12 rebounds and 17 assists en path to a 120-105 win. This was the eighth sport of the season with at the least 17 assists for Westbrook. The remainder of the NBA mixed has 11 such video games.
The Wizards are nonetheless solely 33-38 on the season, however with this win they’re now 16-6 since April 5. That’s tied for the second-best report within the league in that span, they usually have a plus-5.7 internet score in these 22 video games. Only for comparability’s sake, that’s nearly precisely the identical because the Bucks’ internet score for your complete season.
Level being, the Wizards have been superior currently, and now they’re going to the play-in event. Their win over the Cavs secured their spot, and it’s attainable they might nonetheless end as excessive as eighth, which might imply incomes double-elimination standing. What a turnaround for Westbrook and Co.
Jokic triple-double has Nuggets closing in on No. 3 seed
The Nuggets clinched a playoff spot some time again, however the No. 3 seed within the Western Convention continues to be up for grabs, so that they aren’t taking it simple down the stretch. Not even huge man Nikola Jokic, who has carried all of them season lengthy. As coach Mike Malone put it earlier this week, “Nikola might get damage in observe.”
Nonetheless, there’s one approach to get slightly further break day: dominate the start of a sport so completely that you simply get to take a seat out your complete fourth quarter. That’s precisely what Jokic did on Friday night time, recording a 20-point, 15-rebound, 11-assist triple-double in simply 26 minutes of motion. The Nuggets led by as a lot as 19 and held on for a snug 104-91 win over the Pistons.
By advantage of their win, and the Clippers loss later within the night time, these two groups at the moment are tied at 47-24 with one sport left to play for every membership. The Nuggets maintain the tiebreaker, which suggests a win on Sunday towards the Path Blazers ensures them the No. 3 seed.
After Jamal Murray went down with a torn ACL final month, nearly everybody anticipated the Nuggets to take a step again. As an alternative, they’ve gone 13-4 since Murray’s damage and have an opportunity to earn a top-three seed for the third straight season. No different West crew might say the identical.
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The submit NBA takeaways: Playoffs taking form as Sixers clinch No. 1 seed within the East; Wizards earn play-in spot appeared first on The Black Chronicle.
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