The race for the NBA’s Western Convention play-in event — and to keep away from all of it collectively — is heating up with slightly below a month remaining within the common season. And there are some star-studded races to look at down the stretch.
Let’s begin towards the underside, the place the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are on a collision course for the 9-10 sport. LeBron James and Stephen Curry, every with 4 NBA titles, will doubtless must win twice within the event to only attain the playoffs and have an opportunity at a fifth ring.
Above L.A. and Golden State sit three groups battling for the coveted 6-seed: the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. The Kings at the moment have the within observe, because of a double-digit win over the Lakers on Wednesday.
How will the standings shake out? Which groups have the hardest schedules remaining? What matchups and stats will matter most? Our NBA Insiders are breaking down what lies forward for every contender and what they should do for a playoff berth.
Notice: Remaining power of schedule and seeding odds courtesy of ESPN Basketball Energy Index (BPI).
6. Sacramento Kings
2023-24 report: 38-27
Remaining SOS: No. 19
BPI odds at No. 6 seed: 46.8%
Nothing about this workforce is a given, aside from Domantas Sabonis’ nightly double-double performances (48 straight video games, the third-longest in-season streak for the reason that 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger). However since struggling a deflating dwelling defeat to the Chicago Bulls during which they blew a 22-point lead, the Kings have received 4 their previous 5 video games and are a season-best 11 video games over .500. And for the reason that All-Star break, Sacramento has earned victories over the first-place Denver Nuggets (twice), third-place Minnesota Timberwolves and the fourth-place LA Clippers inside the final month and alter.
In March, the membership owns a top-five offense and top-five internet ranking. There was one vibrant spot these days on protection amongst this porous group: Second-year guard Keon Ellis restricted Damian Lillard and D’Angelo Russell to 10 factors or fewer in back-to-back video games this week.
Nonetheless, De’Aaron Fox, Sabonis and the Kings have their work reduce out for them schedule-wise. Among the many groups which might be combating to keep away from the play-in spherical, solely the No. 7 Suns have a more durable remaining schedule. Sacramento’s upcoming 10-game slate from March 26 to April 12 features a pair of video games in opposition to All-NBA ground normal Luka Doncic and the Mavs, the Clippers, the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans and the Suns. – Chris Herring
Quantity to look at down the stretch: 22-20 vs. groups with profitable information
The Lakers aren’t the one workforce which may not need to see the Kings within the play-in. Sacramento trails the season sequence in opposition to simply two West postseason groups: the Clippers (1-2) and the Pelicans (0-4).
The Kings are considered one of eight groups with a profitable report in opposition to groups .500 or higher, a feat the Suns, Mavs, Lakers and Warriors cannot boast. In contrast, Sacramento has gone 16-7 (.696) in opposition to the league’s below-.500 drags, far worse than Dallas (21-5, .808) and Golden State (20-5, .800). – Kevin Pelton
7. Phoenix Suns
2023-24 report: 38-28
Remaining SOS: No. 2
BPI odds at No. 6 seed: 27.7%
When Phoenix dropped to 14-15 after shedding on Christmas Day to the Mavericks, it appeared the workforce’s large three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal wasn’t going to repay. At that time accidents had zapped the workforce, with Beal and Jusuf Nurkic each out.
Since then, Phoenix has gone 24-12 to show round their season. Beal performed in simply six video games previous to Christmas however has been principally wholesome since. With Durant and Booker taking part in at an All-NBA stage, Phoenix hopes it will have sufficient to get out of the play-in event and get a much-needed 5 – 6 days off earlier than the primary spherical begins.
Sadly for Phoenix, the Suns have the hardest remaining schedule within the West, with 11 of their 17 remaining video games on the street. Their ultimate six regular-season video games might determine their postseason destiny, with the Suns set to face contenders within the Timberwolves, Pelicans, Clippers and Kings. – Andrew Lopez
Quantity to look at down the stretch: 45% 3-point capturing from beginning 5
If the Suns are going to keep away from the play-in and make a deep playoff run, they’re going to do it on the power of their capturing. Phoenix’s general 38% 3-point capturing, good for seventh within the league, understates the hazard introduced by the Suns’ starters.
Among the many three lineups this season which have shot at the least 44% on at the least 100 3-point makes an attempt, per NBA Superior Stats, two are from Phoenix: 45% with the starters (better of any lineup that is shot at the least 150 3s) and 44.5% with Eric Gordon instead of Beal. – Pelton
8. Dallas Mavericks
2023-24 report: 38-29
Remaining SOS: No. 17
BPI odds at No. 6 seed: 40.5%
Dallas has handled accidents and inconsistency whereas looking for the perfect matches to enhance their co-superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, using 33 totally different beginning lineups to this point this season.
The Mavs have aggressively tried to improve Doncic’s supporting solid over the previous couple of transaction cycles, beginning with the Irving commerce, giving up 2027 and 2029 first-round picks and 2028 and 2030 swap rights.
Dallas is 5-0 when this season’s deadline additions Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington begin alongside Doncic and Irving. Dallas is 24-15 when Doncic and Irving each play, a drastic improve from the duo’s 5-11 report en path to the lottery final season, however now Doncic is coping with left hamstring soreness that sidelined him Thursday evening in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Mavericks’ two clashes with the Kings on March 26 and 29 might decide whether or not Dallas has life like hopes of climbing out of the play-in image. Sacramento received the earlier two conferences between the groups, so Dallas must sweep the set for an opportunity at a tiebreaker (convention report).
The excellent news? The Mavs have earned the tiebreaker over the Suns, the opposite workforce within the tightly bunched group between sixth and eighth within the standings. – Tim MacMahon
Quantity to look at down the stretch: twenty eighth in protection since All-Star break
The Mavericks’ offense has been surging. Solely the Celtics and Nuggets — the 2 title favorites — have higher offensive rankings up to now month. But Dallas has gone simply 6-5 due to a bottom-three protection in that span. The Mavericks have been hit by opponent’s 3-point capturing variance, with the 39% they’re capturing ranks twenty ninth within the league.
Nevertheless, the newly acquired Washington has been miscast within the position of wing stopper, understandably struggling to include the league’s finest scorers. If Dallas goes to make a playoff run, the protection should tighten up. – Pelton
9. Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 report: 36-31
Remaining SOS: No. 21
BPI odds at No. 6 seed: 4.3%
Are the Lakers the identical workforce that made the convention finals final spring and received the inaugural in-season event in December? Are they a title-caliber workforce simply barraged by accidents? Or are they merely not adequate to be thought of a real contender?
Whereas they is perhaps trending upward — 12-6 since Feb. 1 — the Lakers’ general efficiency has been center of the pack: seventeenth in offensive effectivity and 18th in defensive effectivity. Given final season’s playoff run because the No. 7 seed and the attainable returns of key contributors Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Christian Wooden means L.A. cannot be counted out
However James has likened this season’s Lakers to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for a purpose.
The No. 9 Lakers have a one-game lead over the Warriors and play them two extra occasions within the ultimate month of the common season, after the groups cut up their first two conferences. L.A. nonetheless has aspirations of profitable sufficient down the stretch to keep away from the play-in event utterly, but when that surge does not occur, these video games in opposition to Golden State — Saturday and April 9 in L.A. — might very effectively determine who hosts a single-elimination No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in sport. – Dave McMenamin
Quantity to look at down the stretch: Anthony Davis’ 0-10 profession report vs. Sabonis
The Lakers do not desire a play-in matchup with the Kings, who swept the regular-season sequence 4-0, maintaining Davis winless in his profession head-to-head with Sabonis. The mark is inflated by 4 wins in Sabonis’ 2016-17 rookie season in Oklahoma Metropolis, throughout which Davis (then with the Pelicans) outscored Sabonis 117-20.
The 2 gamers one way or the other by no means matched up within the time between when Davis joined the Lakers and Sabonis was traded to Sacramento. Since then, Davis has struggled in head-to-head conferences (capturing 44%) greater than Sabonis has essentially overperformed. Finally, Davis will finest Sabonis, however the Lakers would slightly not take that probability now. – Pelton
10. Golden State Warriors
2023-24 report: 34-31
Remaining SOS: No. 14
BPI odds at No. 6 seed: 0.9%
Popping out of the All-Star break, the Tenth-place Warriors nonetheless had their sights on securing a top-six seed within the Western Convention.
“We’re probably not centered on 7 [seed], 8, 9, 10. We’re No. 6 and No. 5,” Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski mentioned.
Stephen Curry agreed: “It is a lofty objective, however we are able to get there.”
Now, with lower than a month left within the common season and nonetheless in Tenth place — one sport behind the Lakers for ninth and 4 video games behind Sacramento for sixth — the Warriors are close to locks for the play-in event.
They need to concentrate on climbing into the seventh or eighth seed. When wholesome, the Warriors have confirmed they will put up a battle in opposition to a title contender. Klay Thompson and Chris Paul have steadied the second unit, whereas the emergence of younger gamers akin to Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis have given them some depth. Jonathan Kuminga has had a breakout season with a profession excessive 16.1 factors per sport — and the workforce is 15-8 since he grew to become a starter in December.
They nonetheless have large lapses, failing to complete video games — they’re 18-20 in 38 clutch video games, tied for second-most within the league — and struggling to compete with the highest groups, most not too long ago being blown out by 52 factors in opposition to the Celtics.
Golden State performs 10 of their ultimate 17 video games on the street, which is perhaps a blessing in disguise. The Warriors are 17-13 away from Chase Heart — a large enchancment over their 11-30 street report final season, fourth-worst within the NBA. Serving to the Warriors is the Tenth best remaining schedule within the league — and second-easiest amongst West contenders at the moment within the play-in race. – Kendra Andrews
Quantity to look at down the stretch: Thompson averaging 19.7 factors per sport as a reserve
The ankle sprain that sidelined Curry the previous three video games — two losses throughout that span — briefly moved Thompson again into the beginning 5. However earlier than that, bringing the long run Corridor of Famer off the bench was working for the Warriors. Thompson averaged extra factors in 26.3 minutes per sport as a reserve than he did in 30.2 MPG as a starter (16.6 PPG).
Thompson hit 44% of his 3s as a reserve, up from 37% as a starter. And taking part in Thompson with the reserves allowed Golden State to characteristic him with the next utilization price (27%, up from 23% as a starter). – Pelton
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