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NBA West playoff picture: Lakers just one game back of No. 5 seed; Current standings, matchups, tiebreakers

by www.cbssports.com Leave a Comment

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Below is a comprehensive snapshot of where things stand in the Western Conference playoff and play-in races entering play on Saturday. This post will update daily throughout the remainder of the regular season or until all seeds are clinched.

Reminder on how the play-in tournament works: No. 7 plays No. 8 and No. 9 plays No. 10. The winner of the 7-8 game gets the No. 7 seed, while the loser plays the winner of the 9-10 game for the  No. 8 seed.

READ: Eastern Conference playoff picture

NOTE: Our SportsLine model, developed by predictive data engineer Stephen Oh, simulates the entire season 10,000 times to produce the most unbiased and precise projections imaginable.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Denver Nuggets (51-26)

  • Clinched top-three seed
  • Current first-round matchup: TBD
  • Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Nuggets have clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Season series tied 1-1 with one to play

2. Memphis Grizzlies (49-28)

  • Clinched top-three seed
  • Current first-round matchup: vs. Pelicans-Timberwolves play-in winner
  • Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Nuggets have clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Kings currently own via conference record

3. Sacramento Kings (47-30)

  • Clinched top-four seed
  • Current first-round matchup: vs. Warriors
  • Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Tied 1-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Memphis: Kings currently own via conference win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Kings own via division leader
  • Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play

4. Phoenix Suns (42-35)

  • Current first-round matchup: vs. Clippers
  • Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Kings own via division leader
  • Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Suns clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves : Suns clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Suns currently own via conference win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Clippers : Suns lead 2-1 with one to play

5. Los Angeles Clippers (41-37)

  • Current first-round matchup: at Suns
  • Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns lead 2-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Clippers lead via division win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks currently own via conference record
  • Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans lead 1-0 with two to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Lakers : Clippers clinched

6. Golden State Warriors (41-37)

  • Current first-round matchup: at Kings
  • Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns have clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves currently lead via conference win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Warriors clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers lead via division win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Thunder: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Warriors lead via conference win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Warriors clinched

PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

7. Los Angeles Lakers (39-38)

  • Current first-round matchup: vs. Pelicans (play-in)
  • Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Lakers clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Lakers clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz lead 2-0 with two to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Lakers clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers currently own via conference win percentage

8. New Orleans Pelicans (39-38)

  • Current first-round matchup: at Lakers (play-in)
  • Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead via conference win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Tied 1-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavericks lead 2-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Jazz clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Pelicans clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Pelicans clinched

9. Minnesota Timberwolves (39-38)

  • Current first-round matchup: vs. Thunder (play-in)
  • Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Wolves currently lead via conference win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Wolves clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Wolves clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Tied 1-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Wolves currently own via division record
  • Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Wolves clinched

10. Oklahoma City Thunder (38-40)

  • Current first-round matchup: at Timberwolves (play-in)
  • Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Golden State leads 2-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: OKC clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Pelicans clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Utah: OKC leads 2-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Portland: OKC clinched

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

11. Dallas Mavericks (37-40)

  • Tiebreaker vs. Oklahoma City: OKC clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Suns owns via conference win percentage
  • Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Wolves clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Dallas currently owns via conference record
  • Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Utah: Dallas leads 2-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Mavericks clinched

12. Utah Jazz (36-41)

  • Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Jazz clinched
  • Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Jazz lead 2-0 with two to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. OKC: Thunder lead 2-1 with one to play
  • Tiebreaker vs. Portland: Blazers lead 2-1 with one to play

Luka Doncic suffers fresh NBA blow after Dallas Mavericks ace’s stinging comments

by www.express.co.uk Leave a Comment

Migos perform at the NBA All-Star Game Performance in February

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season and has picked up a one-game suspension for his chirping troubles. Unless the NBA office rescinds the technical, Doncic will be forced to sit out the team’s game on Monday night against the Indiana Pacers after being slapped with a technical midway through the third quarter against the Charlotte Hornets for arguing a no-call after missing a shot on a drive to the basket.

Doncic had been chirping at officials for most of Sunday’s tightly contested contest, which eventually ended 110-104 in the Hornets’ favour. The 24-year-old scored 40 points in 40 minutes against the Hornets, but it wasn’t enough to seal a second-straight loss to the Michael Jordan-owned franchise.

Doncic’s absence comes as a blow to the Mavericks, who are having a tough time in the Western Conference. They sit 11th with a 36-39 record and are still out of position for a play-in tournament spot – one back of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sunday’s news comes just a few days after Doncic was fined £28,600 ($35,000) for directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official in the clash against the Golden State Warriors on March 22 at American Airlines Center. The incident occurred with :01.7 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks’ 127-125 loss.

READ MORE: Indiana Pacers coach picks ‘NBA cheat code’ Joel Embiid as MVP

Luka Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul

Luka Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul (Image: Getty)

Players automatically get a one-game suspension after 16 technical fouls each season, and for every two technicals thereafter. Doncic narrowly avoided a suspension the prior two years, finishing each of those seasons with 15 technical fouls.

Doncic did manage to get a technical foul rescinded before last year’s regular-season finale.

The Dallas mavericks will be without

The Dallas mavericks will be without Luka Doncic for next week’s game against the Pacers (Image: Getty)

Others, however, haven’t been so lucky. Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green have served suspensions this season.

Following Tuesday’s trip to Indiana, the Mavericks have six games to save their season. A game against the Philadelphia 76ers will be followed by fixtures against Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant ‘couldn’t sleep’ before making delayed debut

by www.express.co.uk Leave a Comment

Kevin Durant finally made his debut for the Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant finally made his debut for the Phoenix Suns (Image: GETTY)

After trading to the Phoenix Suns on February 9, Kevin Durant finally made his long-awaited home debut as he took to the court against Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s the fourth team in the NBA that the experienced formerIklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets star has played for, but even someone as seasoned as Durant still ‘couldn’t sleep’ due to the nerves of the big day.

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The two-time NBA Champion and former league MVP left the Nets in February after an unsuccessful spell, leaving in the same window as fellow star Kyrie Irving. The Nets needed a rebuild with title ambitions not going to plan, and both Durant and Irving wanted to move on.

Durant joined the Suns, teaming up with the likes of Devin Booker and Chris Paul, to strengthen their bid for the 2023 Championship by adding valuable experience. But even Durant admitted to still being nervous, with his delayed debut adding to the tension.

The 34-year-old scored 16 points in a 107-100 win over the Timberwolves, but was visibly shaky during his first few attempts at the net. After the game he opened up about how he was feeling the night before his first apearance on his home court.

Suns fans are already excited about Durant being on the team

Suns fans are already excited about Durant being on the team (Image: GETTY)

“It was hard for me to get sleep today, it was hard for me to stop thinking about the game,” Durant said. “Sometimes you can want it too bad, and you come out, start rushing and being uncharacteristic.”

Durant was traded to the Suns while still nursing an injury, then suffered a nasty fall in the pre-game warm-up just three games into his Sunday career. With injury woe hopefully behind him, his focus is now on getting back to full fitness as they look to secure a play-off berth and make a postseason run.

“I’m glad I’m back, I’m glad I’m playing again and being one of the guys,” Durant added.

“Just building from here. It felt good. I miss playing, I miss being with the guys. It was a big win for us, we needed this one, but yeah I felt good being out there again.”

Durant is set to work on his fitness before the postseason

Durant is set to work on his fitness before the postseason (Image: GETTY)

Suns head coach Monty Williams was happy with Durant’s return, and is excited with what is to come from the former MVP. Williams is aware that Durant isn’t at full fitness, but thinks once he’s ready they’ll have an MVP contender once more.

“I thought he battled on both ends,” Williams told reporters after the win over the Timberwolves. “I think his cardio has got to get back to the level he wants it.

“Once he gets that, we’ll see the Kevin that we all know.” The Suns are yet to clinch a play-off spot, but with a record of 41-35 they’re closing in.

LeBron James aims snide remark at Elon Musk after unpopular Twitter plans

by www.express.co.uk Leave a Comment

LeBron James has informed his followers he will not pay for Twitter Blue

LeBron James has informed his followers he will not pay for Twitter Blue (Image: GETTY)

Elon Musk has divided opinion within the Twitter community ever since purchasing the social media platform, but a huge change will reportedly be made on April 1. Twitter will begin to remove the famous ‘blue tick’ on legacy verified accounts, and NBA star LeBron James has called Musk’s bluff by letting his fans know he will no longer have the checkmark.

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Twitter certainly isn’t the platform is once was, or even the site it was a year ago for that matter. Initially fans were desperate for Musk to buy Twitter as the Tesla founder made multiple positive hints about what he might do with the platform.

However, the whole site has changed more drastically than users anticipated, and now the initial meaning of being verified is set to be lost in the coming weeks. Musk introduced Twitter Blue which allowed non-notable accounts to receive the verified status for a fee, and everyone who had the blue tick through the conventional method then became a ‘legacy-verified account’.

Now Musk is warning those users that they must subscribe to Twitter Blue or face losing their status, something that could see thousands of celebrities, sports stars, journalists and notable people lose their verification tick if they don’t pay. James is set to be one of them, after letting fans know he won’t be paying a dime to be on Twitter.

Welp guess my blue ✔️ will be gone soon cause if you know me I ain’t paying the 5. ������������‍♂️

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 31, 2023

“Welp guess my blue tick will be gone soon cause if you know me I ain’t paying the 5,” James tweeted on Friday as he fired a dig at Musk. And it comes on a day where thousands of people are preparing to lose their verification, as many do not wish to be forced into paying for a free service.

“On April 1st, we will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks,” the official Twitter Verified account tweeted on March 23. And amid initial backlash from high-profile accounts, Musk tweeted: “It’s more about treating everyone equally. There shouldn’t be a different standard for celebrities in my opinion.”

Twitter Blue is being charged at £7.99 a month in the UK, with premium features offered to those who subscribe. Those who wish to use the app for free will be able to, but their use will be limited unless they pay.

Elon Musk has changed Twitter more than users expected

Elon Musk has changed Twitter more than users expected (Image: GETTY)

The argument has continued online due to the initial reasoning for verifying accounts in the first place was to ensure that users knew which accounts were genuine. It stopped impersonation, and was also valuable for verifying trusted news sources.

But the validity of the blue tick has been watered down, if not completely destroyed due to the access being opened up. Musk clearly isn’t concerned though, as he tweeted on Friday: “If you don’t like reality, just ignore it. Works (almost) every time.”

Musk is set to roll in the changes anyway, with his deadline of April 1 being set. Unless high-profile celebrities pay, they face losing their long-lasting blue tick.