The NBA common season wraps up this week. What’s at stake?

The NBA common season has now entered the ultimate week, however there’s nonetheless loads of play forward of Sunday’s final slate of video games and the following play-in event — which works from April 16 to 19.

A number of groups are nonetheless preventing to clinch playoff spots and home-court benefit by way of not less than the primary spherical of the playoffs, which is able to start April 20.

Within the Japanese Convention, the Boston Celtics have lengthy since secured the highest spot. The Milwaukee Bucks are barely holding onto the No. 2 seed, whereas groups just like the Philadelphia 76ers (and reigning MVP Joel Embiid) are attempting to maneuver up the standings.

Issues could not be tighter within the Western Convention. Three groups — the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — are preventing for the highest spot. In the meantime, star-laden groups just like the Los Angeles Lakers (led by LeBron James) and the Golden State Warriors (led by Stephen Curry) will probably need to emerge from the play-in event to make a postseason run.

Our NBA insiders have a look at the important thing video games and massive storylines to observe for because the NBA common season wraps up.

1. What sport this week are you keeping track of, and why?

Tim MacMahon: Timberwolves at Nuggets. The West’s prime seed may very well be determined Wednesday evening in Denver, when these groups will each be on back-to-backs after taking part in lottery-bound groups the earlier nights. Minnesota would declare the tiebreaker with a victory. The Timberwolves are already liable for one of many Nuggets’ eight house losses this season, profitable March 29 — a sport that Denver guard Jamal Murray missed due a knee harm.

Jamal Collier: Not solely may that Timberwolves-Nuggets sport finally decide the No.1 seed within the West, it can give the groups within the backside half of the bracket an concept the place Denver can be seeded and arrange a weekend of watching groups attempt to keep away from a first-round matchup with the defending champions.

Kendra Andrews: Denver is the one crew nobody within the West desires to face within the first spherical. Not solely will Tuesday’s sport in opposition to Minnesota probably determine the No. 1 seed, it can decide who the groups preventing to make the play-in (together with groups just like the Lakers and the Warriors) may face within the first spherical.

Andrew Lopez: Wednesday’s conflict between the East’s prime two sides — the Celtics and the Bucks — can have some intrigue. Milwaukee has struggled as of late (dropping 4 straight and 6 of their previous seven) as they attempt to get into the playoffs with some kind of momentum. Boston has gained two of three earlier matchups this season together with a 122-119 win March 20 when Bucks massive man Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a hamstring harm. If Milwaukee desires to show it’s a reputable menace to the Celtics within the playoffs, a win right here would assist.

Dave McMenamin: Lakers on the New Orleans Pelicans on the final day of the common season. After L.A. dominated New Orleans in Las Vegas within the semifinals of the inaugural in-season event in December, it sparked a dialog concerning the profession trajectory of Zion Williamson and what’s gone fallacious. Williamson has performed a few of his greatest ball since however will face a giant take a look at in Sunday’s showdown in opposition to LeBron James & Co., with main seeding implications probably on the road.

2. What crew has the MOST at stake within the last week of the season?

McMenamin: The Bucks are in an fascinating spot. Milwaukee closes with video games in opposition to the Celtics, the Thunder and two video games in opposition to an Orlando Magic facet proper behind them within the standings. If the Bucks attain the convention finals and lose to the Celtics, it will likely be a disappointment however not a catastrophe. Something lower than convention finals run for Bucks coach Doc Rivers with this championship-hungry group could be an abject failure.

Collier: The 76ers. Sitting in seventh place, the Sixers may get again within the top-six of the standings and provides reigning MVP Embiid an additional week to arrange and relaxation earlier than the playoffs. If the Sixers keep away from the play-in altogether, they might set themselves up for a deep playoff run.

Lopez: Simply two weeks in the past, the Pelicans had been 17 video games over .500 and as much as No. 4 within the West. Now, they’ve tumbled into the No. 7 spot and can be hoping to keep away from slipping additional within the standings. New Orleans finishes with highway video games at Portland, Sacramento and Golden State earlier than a house matchup in opposition to the Lakers — which may find yourself being an enormous sport for seeding functions. Failing within the play-in event for the second 12 months in a row after holding home-court benefit simply three weeks prior could be disastrous for the franchise.

Andrews: The Sacramento Kings’ fall into the play-in bracket has been powerful, and it is not going to get any simpler. They’ve 4 video games left, and three of them are in opposition to aggressive West groups above them within the standings (Oklahoma Metropolis, New Orleans and the Phoenix Suns). If they’ll not less than safe the No. 6 or No. 7 seed at this level, that might be thought-about a win.

MacMahon: As issues stand, the Kings are within the No. 8 seed — which implies they would want to beat the Pelicans to advance into the playoffs. In the event that they misplaced, they’d probably play both the Warriors or the Lakers in a win-or-go-home matchup within the 9/10 sport. It was Golden State which eradicated Sacramento within the first spherical of the playoffs with a Recreation 7 win final season. The Kings do personal the tiebreaker over the Lakers, who’re additionally caught within the play-in bracket, after sweeping this season’s collection.

3. Within the East, it has been the Celtics and everybody else. Which crew ought to Boston worry most?

MacMahon: Concern is simply too robust of a phrase, however who desires to see Jimmy Butler and the Miami Warmth within the playoffs? Definitely not the Celtics, who’ve encountered that in three of the previous 4 postseasons, getting eradicated by Miami twice and surviving a Recreation 7 on the opposite event. That is Boston’s greatest crew of this period after final summer season’s personnel upgrades, together with Jrue Vacation, however Butler averaged 37.6 factors whereas eliminating Vacation’s Bucks within the first spherical final season.

Collier: The way in which the previous two weeks within the Japanese Convention have gone, the Celtics actually mustn’t worry any crew on their method to the NBA Finals. Milwaukee should be poised to present Boston its greatest collection, and Boston will certainly be being attentive to the place Philly winds up within the standings, contemplating how Embiid regarded in his return final week after his two-month absence from a knee harm.

Andrews: With the Bucks sputtering proper now, it feels as if the 76ers are most poised to present the Celtics a tough time. If Embiid can get into groove, the Sixers may make a aggressive push within the playoffs.

McMenamin: Boston remains to be the category of the East, however I might additionally give Philly a puncher’s probability. Perhaps that is placing an excessive amount of religion within the reigning MVP’s skill to handle his ailing left knee, however I’ve to suppose that Embiid did not push to return when he did until he had plans to make some noise. A latest massive man who went up in opposition to Embiid following his return informed me he was blown away by how match the Sixers heart stayed throughout his rehab. After arising quick in opposition to Boston in Recreation 7 of the convention semis final 12 months, Embiid can have loads of motivation if the groups play once more.

Lopez: It might be barely cliché, however the crew the Celtics have to fret about probably the most are themselves. When you’ve gotten a 15-game lead within the standings, it could be straightforward to get complacent heading into the playoffs in opposition to whoever could be the No. 8 seed. A few of these potential matchups — particularly if it is the Warmth or the Sixers — may very well be scary sufficient. However ensuring every part is correct inside their very own squad must be the precedence.

4. Which of the West’s prime seeds must be most involved about its potential first-round matchup?

MacMahon: The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who most likely favor to not go in opposition to the Lakers — a giant, bodily crew that matches properly in opposition to an undersized OKC squad. The Lakers went 3-1 in opposition to the Thunder this season, profitable every of the previous three conferences. The Thunder obtained bullied by cumbersome Lakers superstars LeBron James (who averaged 26.4 factors and 9.3 rebounds) and Anthony Davis (27.0 ppg, 13.0 rpg) in these matchups. There’s additionally fairly a drastic distinction in playoff expertise. James has 282 video games of playoff expertise; the complete Thunder roster has 108.

McMenamin: Past the expertise edge and regular-season success the Lakers have had in opposition to the Thunder, there’s additionally the query of whether or not the formulation for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s affect — capturing 8.6 free throws per sport, third most within the league — would translate in playoff basketball.

Andrews: If it is not the Lakers for the Thunder, it may very well be one other veteran-led crew within the Warriors. OKC does maintain the 3-1 regular-season collection over Stephen Curry and Co., however do not depend out the expertise issue. If the Warriors need an opportunity at making a postseason run, the Thunder is their most favorable matchup.

Collier: The LA Clippers had been top-of-the-line groups within the convention a couple of months in the past, however the Dallas Mavericks have seized that position for the reason that All-Star break, establishing a possible third playoff assembly in 5 seasons. Whereas the Clippers have superior in each of these earlier matchups regardless of stellar performances from Luka Doncic, the thought of going in opposition to him (together with Kyrie Irving) in a possible No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed matchup ought to give them motive to be involved.

Lopez: The Timberwolves, however has extra to do with the well being of Karl-Anthony Cities than anything. Minnesota remains to be 11-5 since Cities went out along with his meniscus tear, however the playoffs are totally different. With the Warriors and Lakers nonetheless in play as doable matchups within the first spherical, that can be a giant take a look at for Anthony Edwards and the Wolves.

5. There can be eight play-in groups. Which one is poised to make a giant postseason run or exceed expectations?

Lopez: The Western Convention play-in race shifts on a nightly foundation. However one factor that appears sure is that it’ll include the Warriors, because it’s simply onerous to depend out Curry in any race. Because the Warmth proved final season, it’s doable for a crew to succeed in the NBA Finals from the play-in event.

Andrews: The 76ers have the expertise, championship aspirations and the reigning MVP. They had been damage throughout the common season due to an onslaught of accidents, so in the event that they construct momentum throughout the play-in event, it may bode properly for them.

Collier: I will go along with Philly as properly, simply because that is shaping up as the primary postseason in latest Sixers historical past with out a lot postseason expectations. However they may very well be getting wholesome on the proper time whereas the highest of the East is faltering.

MacMahon: The crew that wins the 7-8 sport within the East play-in event — whether or not that’s the Warmth, the Sixers or the Pacers — and books a first-round collection in opposition to the struggling Bucks. For the reason that starting of March, the Bucks have been underneath .500 and have misplaced 4 straight video games, together with a three-game stretch to the Raptors, Grizzlies and Wizards — all groups that can be within the prime half of the lottery. The one motive the Bucks stay in second place is as a result of the Cleveland Cavaliers have been even worse –10-16 (.385) for the reason that All-Star break.

McMenamin: After making it to the convention finals because the No. 7 seed final season, there isn’t any probability the Lakers can exceed exterior expectations this time round. The fanbase desires a visit to the NBA Finals. That stated, they’re a assured group with inside expectations to make a future as soon as once more. I additionally suppose Philly is a crew that would go deep within the postseason from the play-in tourney and truly be counseled for it.