The NBA playoff chase re-ignites on Thursday night with 10 high-stakes games. Here are all the matchups, odds, and the crucial path to postseason glory.
The NBA All-Star break is behind us now, and the chase for playoff spots resumes on Thursday. Most teams have only 28 games remaining on average, so the intensity level is certainly going to be ramped up for teams chasing postseason berths.
There are 10 games on Thursday's schedule, with Amazon Prime Video carrying two national games, the Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. ET, and the Boston Celtics taking on the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET.
Here's the full schedule for Thursday night, with national TV information and the latest on the point spreads, courtesy of the Fanduel.com gambling website:
* Houston Rockets (33-20) at Charlotte Hornets (26-29), 7 p.m. ET. Point spread: Houston is a 4.5-point favorite; the over under is 216.5.
* Brooklyn Nets (15-38) at Cleveland Cavaliers (34-21), 7 p.m. ET. Point spread: Cleveland is a 16.5-point favorite; the over/under is 229.5.
* Atlanta Hawks (26-30) at Philadelphia 76ers (30-24), 7 p.m. ET. Point spread: Philadelphia is a 1.5-point favorite; the over/under is 217.5.
* Indiana Pacers (15-40) at Washington Wizards (14-39), 7 p.m. ET. Point spread: Indiana is a 3.5-point favorite; the over/under is 233.5.
* Detroit Pistons (40-13) at New York Knicks (35-20), 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: Amazon Prime Video. Point spread: New York is a 4.5-point favorite; the over/under is 223.5.
* Toronto Raptors (32-23) at Chicago Bulls (24-31), 8 p.m. ET. Point spread: Toronto is a 5.5-point favorite; the over/under 233.5.
* Phoenix Suns (32-23) at San Antonio Spurs (38-16), 8:30 p.m. ET. Point spread: San Antonio is a 7.5-point favorite; the over/under is 228.5.
* Boston Celtics (35-19) at Golden State Warriors (29-26), 10 p.m. ET. TV: Amazon Prime Video. Point spread: Boston is a 5.5-point favorite; the over/under is 212.5.
* Orlando Magic (28-25) at Sacramento Kings (12-44), 10 p.m. ET. Point spread: Orlando is an 8.5-point favorite; the over/under is 224.5.
* Denver Nuggets (35-20) at Los Angeles Clippers (26-28), 10 p.m. ET. Point spread: Denver is a 4.5-point favorite; the over/under is 225.5.
If you need a little NBA playoffs primer, here's how it works. The top-six teams in each conference are guaranteed a spot in the first round. Teams that finish No. 7 through No. 10 will compete in the Play-In Tournament.
It is a three-game format, where the No. 7 seed plays the No. 8 seed, and the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The No. 9 and No. 10 seeds play, and the winner plays the loser of the 7-8 game for the No. 8 spot in the playoffs.
Here are the current seedings in each conference:
Eastern Conference playoffs
No. 1 seed — Detroit Pistons (40-13)
No. 2 seed — Boston Celtics (35-19)
No. 3 seed — New York Knicks (35-20)
No. 4 seed — Cleveland Cavaliers (34-21)
No. 5 seed — Toronto Raptors (32-23)
No. 6 seed — Philadelphia 76ers (30-24)
No. 7 seed — Orlando Magic (28-25)
No. 8 seed — Miami Heat (29-27)
No. 9 seed — Charlotte Hornets (26-29)
No. 10 seed — Atlanta Hawks (26-30)
Western Conference playoffs
No. 1 seed — Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14)
No. 2 seed — San Antonio Spurs (38-16)
No. 3 seed — Denver Nuggets (35-20)
No. 4 seed — Houston Rockets (33-20)
No. 5 seed — Los Angeles Lakers (33-21)
No. 6 seed — Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22)
No. 7 seed — Phoenix Suns (32-23)
No. 8 seed — Golden State Warriors (29-26)
No. 9 seed — Portland Trail Blazers (27-29)
No. 10 seed — Los Angeles Clippers (26-30)