NBA playoff tracker: So much for Clippers-Lakers in the opening round
Yahoo Sports will keep you updated nightly on the NBA playoff race during the last two weeks of the regular season. Check back daily for the latest movement in the standings, what to watch for and teams securing their 2020-21 playoff berths.
Friday's standings
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers (48-23)
2. Brooklyn Nets (46-24, 1.5 GB)
3. Milwaukee Bucks (45-25, 2.5 GB)
4. Atlanta Hawks (40-31, 8 GB)
5. Miami Heat (39-31, 8.5 GB)
6. New York Knicks (39-31, 8.5 GB)
Play-in tournament
7. Boston Celtics (35-35, 12.5 GB)
8. Charlotte Hornets (33-37, 14.5 GB)
9. Indiana Pacers (33-37, 14.5 GB)
10. Washington Wizards (33-38, 15 GB)
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz (51-20)
2. Phoenix Suns (49-21, 1.5 GB)
3. Denver Nuggets (47-24, 4 GB)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (47-24, 4 GB)
5. Dallas Mavericks (42-29, 9 GB)
6. Portland Trail Blazers (41-30, 10 GB)
Play-in tournament
7. Los Angeles Lakers (40-30, 10.5 GB)
8. Golden State Warriors (38-33, 13 GB)
9. Memphis Grizzlies (38-33, 13 GB)
10. San Antonio Spurs (33-37, 17.5 GB)
Game of the night: How did the Clippers lose to the Rockets?
The Houston Rockets winning the last weekend of the regular season wouldn't normally be relevant, but this outcome has a direct impact on the playoff path for the Los Angeles Clippers:
Clippers just assured that they can’t face the Lakers in Round 1. If they lose their final game (at OKC), they are the 4. If they win and DEN loses at POR, LAC are the 3, and LAL are in the play-in going for No. 7 w/POR the 6 at worst. If DEN wins at POR, DEN is the 3.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 15, 2021
Even if they land in the play-in tournament, you know Lakers fans are going to eat this news up. It was just the second Rockets win in their last 14 games. Here was tonight's starting lineup for the Clippers: Luke Kennard, Jay Scrubb, Rajon Rondo, Marcus Morris Sr., Ivica Zubac.
Bravo, Clippers.
Performance of the night: Jordan Poole and Mychal Mulder
With Steph Curry resting for Sunday's game against Memphis to decide the eighth and ninth seed, two young backup guards had a chance to shine in Jordan Poole and Mychal Mulder. Poole scored a career-high 38 points and the go-ahead layup with 21.4 seconds in Golden State's 125-122 win over New Orleans. Early in the third quarter, Poole went back to the locker room after injuring his ankle. The injury didn't keep him out of the game as he returned later in the quarter and was clutch for the Warriors down the stretch.
38 PTS | 12-22 FG | 4-9 3FG
Jordan Poole was in the zone tonight. pic.twitter.com/YY0W4n90Q2— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 15, 2021
Mulder also had a career-high 28 points including seven 3-pointers. With Klay Thompson returning next season, the Warriors could have solid guard depth in 2021-22.
What to watch Saturday
Miami vs. Milwaukee (8 p.m. ET)
We could get a playoff preview on Saturday night as a Heat-Bucks series is still in play for the first round. Milwaukee has an outside shot at the second seed but would need some help from a Brooklyn team that ends with home games against Chicago and Cleveland this weekend. While Miami is the fifth seed as of Friday night, they have the same record as the New York Knicks with a harder final two games:
Heat:
5/15: @ Milwaukee
5/16: @ Detroit
Knicks:
5/15: vs. Chicago
5/16 vs. Cleveland
One last thing
Showing some love to the start of the WNBA season: Welcome back, Sabrina.
IONESCU CALLED GAME 🔥
Welcome back, Sabrina 👏
(via @espn)pic.twitter.com/V8ZAmg9ViP— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 15, 2021
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