For NBA teams with playoff aspirations, every night counts over the course of an 82-game season. With that said, there is additional emphasis placed on contests in the month of April, as playoff seeding becomes the focus for the vast majority of the league.
With the release of the full 2017-2018 schedule on Monday, there is plenty of intrigue when it comes to specific pockets of the season and one such section arrives over the final two weeks of the season. Teams jockeying for playoff positioning will be forced to expend a great deal of energy to secure victories and the basketball-viewing public will have its collective eye on the proceedings.
There are more than 10 (very) important games that will emerge in April but, for now, we are here to take a look at ten match-ups that will likely decide the course of the playoff seeding in both conferences. Let’s get to work.
Rockets @ Spurs — Apr. 1
We’ll get things going with a bang as two of the five best teams in the NBA square off to begin April. It would be something of a shock if either team approached the Warriors for the No. 1 seed but, if the Spurs and Rockets did battle for the runner-up position throughout the campaign, no one would bat an eye. This could decide things after a (very) long battle.
Grizzlies @ Blazers — Apr. 1
Not every match-up can be as sexy as Rockets/Spurs, but both Memphis and Portland should be jockeying for lower-tier playoff positioning. The Western Conference will be a well-documented bloodbath but, if healthy, both of these teams should be in position to at least threaten to make the postseason.
Raptors @ Cavs — Apr. 3
Cleveland has dismantled Toronto in the playoffs and that matters. In the regular season, though, the Cavs have been (much) less impressive and there is a large movement against Cleveland as the “favorite” to earn the No. 1 seed. Toronto also has detractors but, regardless, this should be a contest featuring two of the five best teams in the East.
76ers @ Pistons — Apr. 4
If Joel Embiid is healthy, the Sixers could really be a playoff contender. If things stabilize in Detroit, the same could be said for the Pistons. This is the game on this list with the most volatility and, frankly, it isn’t close. Still, this could be a fun and ultimately meaningful game in early April.
Wolves @ Nuggets — Apr. 5
Minnesota made a big-time addition with Jimmy Butler and Denver did the same with Paul Millsap. As a result, both teams look to be firmly entrenched in the playoff picture and this game could go a long way toward deciding first-round matchups.
Clippers @ Jazz — Apr. 5
A playoff rematch from last year could pit two teams that are desperate just to get back to the postseason. That is the nature of losing Chris Paul and Gordon Hayward, respectively, and nothing will be guaranteed on either side.
Thunder @ Rockets — Apr. 7
Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Paul George on the same floor in April? That sounds like a lot of fun to me. For good measure, this game could help to decide who gets to avoid the Warriors in round two of the Western Conference playoffs.
Celtics @ Wizards — Apr. 10
Before losing to the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics emerged victorious in a memorable, seven-game series against the Wizards. Boston is seen by many as the favorite to repeat as the No. 1 seed but, even if they don’t, this one will almost certainly matter in the standings.
Raptors @ Heat — Apr. 11
A lot of evaluators are down on the Raptors and they may prove to be right. Still, Toronto is very likely to return to the playoffs and the Heat spent a metric ton of cash in order to join them. Could this be a preview of a 3-6 (or even 4-5) matchup in the East? Maybe so, and it helps to be taking place on the season’s last evening.
Jazz @ Blazers — Apr. 11
The very last game on the 2017-2018 NBA regular season schedule will be televised on ESPN and it looks to be an intriguing one. Utah isn’t assured of a playoff return without Gordon Hayward but, with Rudy Gobert and a talented, deep roster, they have a chance. On the Portland side, there is some uncertainty in a stacked West but it would be tremendous theater if this one decided a playoff spot for even one of these squads.
