duncan228
04-15-2009, 01:37 PM
High stakes in these season finales (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/nba/04/15/key.games.ap/index.html)
Here's a look at Wednesday's key games and how they will affect the playoff picture:
Nuggets at Trail Blazers
The Nuggets look to clinch the second-best record in the Western Conference and set a franchise record with their 55th win when they visit the Trail Blazers, who can guarantee they'll start the postseason at home with a victory.
Denver (54-27) wrapped up the Northwest Division title and at least the No. 3 seed in the West by riding J.R. Smith's career-high 45 points and franchise-record 11 3-pointers to a 118-98 win over Sacramento on Monday night.
The Nuggets, who also matched their franchise-record win total set in 1987-88, can secure second place in the conference with a win or a Houston loss at Dallas on Wednesday night.
The Blazers (53-28) could finish with the same record as the Nuggets by winning this game to earn a split of the four-game season series, but Denver would still win the Northwest title because it will finish with a better record within the division.
Though first place in the Northwest is out of reach, the Blazers are battling for the right to start the playoffs at home. With a win over the Nuggets, they can clinch at least the fourth seed. If they lose, they could still get home-court advantage if San Antonio loses at home to New Orleans on Wednesday night.
Rockets at Mavericks
The Rockets can clinch their first division title in 15 years and perhaps finish as high as second in the West with a win -- or fall as low as fifth with a loss -- while the Mavericks are hoping a victory will vault them into the sixth seed.
Houston (53-28) has as fluid a situation as any team in the conference. The Rockets will wrap up the Southwest Division -- their first division championship since 1993-94 -- if they can beat the Mavericks (49-32), and they'll finish no lower than third in the conference, with the possibility of moving to second if Denver loses at Portland.
Then again, should Houston fail to beat Dallas, it can fall as low as fifth -- losing the division title and home-court advantage in the process -- with wins by San Antonio and Portland.
The Mavericks, who are looking to win 50 games for a ninth straight season, can still finish as high as sixth, but it'll take a win and a New Orleans loss to San Antonio.
Hornets at Spurs
The Spurs will need help to claim the Southwest Division crown when they host the Hornets, who will finish as either the sixth or seventh seed in the Western Conference.
San Antonio (53-28) is tied with Houston for the Southwest lead, but the Rockets own the tiebreaker. The Spurs must beat New Orleans (49-32) and hope Houston loses at Dallas for San Antonio to win the division and gain the No. 3 seed in the West.
If that happens, the Spurs will meet the Mavericks while the Hornets will take on Denver in the first round. San Antonio, though, will guarantee itself the fifth seed -- and no home-court advantage -- with a loss.
New Orleans gains the sixth seed with a win or a loss by Dallas. The Hornets will be seventh with a loss and a win by the Mavericks.
Raptors at Bulls
Chicago needs a win or a Philadelphia loss at Cleveland to secure the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round matchup with Southeast Division champion Orlando, the No. 3 seed.
If Chicago (41-40) loses and the slumping 76ers win, the Bulls will drop to seventh and face defending world champion Boston.
A victory on Wednesday would give the Bulls their first six-game winning streak since taking seven in a row from Nov. 25-Dec. 8, 2006.
76ers at Cavaliers
The 76ers have lost six straight and are trying to avoid a first-round matchup with the second-seeded Celtics.
The Sixers locked up a playoff berth with a 95-90 win over Detroit on April 4 and had a chance to earn the fourth or fifth seed. Now, they'll get a matchup with the Celtics unless they beat Cleveland and Toronto wins at Chicago.
Although Cleveland can match the best home mark in NBA history at 40-1 on Wednesday night, All-Stars LeBron James and Mo Williams along with veterans Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Joe Smith will not play.
Here's a look at Wednesday's key games and how they will affect the playoff picture:
Nuggets at Trail Blazers
The Nuggets look to clinch the second-best record in the Western Conference and set a franchise record with their 55th win when they visit the Trail Blazers, who can guarantee they'll start the postseason at home with a victory.
Denver (54-27) wrapped up the Northwest Division title and at least the No. 3 seed in the West by riding J.R. Smith's career-high 45 points and franchise-record 11 3-pointers to a 118-98 win over Sacramento on Monday night.
The Nuggets, who also matched their franchise-record win total set in 1987-88, can secure second place in the conference with a win or a Houston loss at Dallas on Wednesday night.
The Blazers (53-28) could finish with the same record as the Nuggets by winning this game to earn a split of the four-game season series, but Denver would still win the Northwest title because it will finish with a better record within the division.
Though first place in the Northwest is out of reach, the Blazers are battling for the right to start the playoffs at home. With a win over the Nuggets, they can clinch at least the fourth seed. If they lose, they could still get home-court advantage if San Antonio loses at home to New Orleans on Wednesday night.
Rockets at Mavericks
The Rockets can clinch their first division title in 15 years and perhaps finish as high as second in the West with a win -- or fall as low as fifth with a loss -- while the Mavericks are hoping a victory will vault them into the sixth seed.
Houston (53-28) has as fluid a situation as any team in the conference. The Rockets will wrap up the Southwest Division -- their first division championship since 1993-94 -- if they can beat the Mavericks (49-32), and they'll finish no lower than third in the conference, with the possibility of moving to second if Denver loses at Portland.
Then again, should Houston fail to beat Dallas, it can fall as low as fifth -- losing the division title and home-court advantage in the process -- with wins by San Antonio and Portland.
The Mavericks, who are looking to win 50 games for a ninth straight season, can still finish as high as sixth, but it'll take a win and a New Orleans loss to San Antonio.
Hornets at Spurs
The Spurs will need help to claim the Southwest Division crown when they host the Hornets, who will finish as either the sixth or seventh seed in the Western Conference.
San Antonio (53-28) is tied with Houston for the Southwest lead, but the Rockets own the tiebreaker. The Spurs must beat New Orleans (49-32) and hope Houston loses at Dallas for San Antonio to win the division and gain the No. 3 seed in the West.
If that happens, the Spurs will meet the Mavericks while the Hornets will take on Denver in the first round. San Antonio, though, will guarantee itself the fifth seed -- and no home-court advantage -- with a loss.
New Orleans gains the sixth seed with a win or a loss by Dallas. The Hornets will be seventh with a loss and a win by the Mavericks.
Raptors at Bulls
Chicago needs a win or a Philadelphia loss at Cleveland to secure the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round matchup with Southeast Division champion Orlando, the No. 3 seed.
If Chicago (41-40) loses and the slumping 76ers win, the Bulls will drop to seventh and face defending world champion Boston.
A victory on Wednesday would give the Bulls their first six-game winning streak since taking seven in a row from Nov. 25-Dec. 8, 2006.
76ers at Cavaliers
The 76ers have lost six straight and are trying to avoid a first-round matchup with the second-seeded Celtics.
The Sixers locked up a playoff berth with a 95-90 win over Detroit on April 4 and had a chance to earn the fourth or fifth seed. Now, they'll get a matchup with the Celtics unless they beat Cleveland and Toronto wins at Chicago.
Although Cleveland can match the best home mark in NBA history at 40-1 on Wednesday night, All-Stars LeBron James and Mo Williams along with veterans Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Joe Smith will not play.