Game No. 82 looms.
Ahead of the Sixers’ ultimate recreation of the common season Sunday night time vs. the Bucks, under is a refresher on the No. 5 by means of No. 10 vary of the Eastern Conference standings. The first by means of sixth seeds will advance to the playoffs. The seventh by means of tenth will compete in the play-in tournament for the East’s ultimate two playoff spots.
- 5. Hawks 46-35
- 6. Raptors 45-36
- 7. Magic 45-36
- 8. Sixers 44-37
- 9. Hornets 43-38
- 10. Heat 42-39
And right here’s a take a look at how things could shake out for the Sixers:
For Sixers to complete sixth
The one state of affairs in which the Sixers would end sixth is: Sixers win, Raptors and Magic lose.
In that case, all three groups can be 45-37 and the Sixers would win the tiebreaker.
Is that collection of occasions believable? It could occur, however the odds seem fairly small. Orlando will face the 55-26 Celtics and Toronto will tackle the 20-61 Nets. Boston’s locked in because the East’s No. 2 seed and Brooklyn’s subsequent main occasion on the calendar is the NBA draft lottery.
Unsurprisingly, each the Celtics and Nets have lengthy injury lists. Brooklyn’s many absences embrace Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Terance Mann and Egor Demin. The Celtics will sit loads of regulars, amongst them Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Neemias Queta.
On a constructive word for the Sixers, the Bucks are shorthanded and nowhere close to postseason rivalry. They ought to beat Milwaukee at house.
For Sixers to complete seventh
The Sixers want a win to have a shot on the seventh seed, which might imply internet hosting the primary recreation of the play-in match as a substitute of touring.
The following two situations would result in the Sixers being No. 7:
- Sixers win, Raptors win, Magic lose
- Sixers win, Raptors lose, Magic win
The first final result would imply that the Sixers play the Magic in that No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup. The second would imply that they’d host Toronto.
Of these two potential play-in opponents, there’s not a no brainer selection for which the Sixers would favor. They split the four-game season series vs. the Raptors. While the Sixers did win two of three video games in opposition to the Magic this season, the one defeat was an embarrassing (albeit undermanned) 41-point home loss on Nov. 25.
For Sixers to complete eighth
Again, the one two different video games that matter to the Sixers are Raptors-Nets and Magic-Celtics. The motive the Sixers can’t fall decrease than eighth is they’d win the tiebreaker over the Hornets if each groups ended at 44-38.
Either of those outcomes would equal the eighth seed for the Sixers:
- Sixers lose (different video games turn out to be irrelevant)
- Sixers win, Raptors win, Magic win
As outlined above, neither Orlando nor Toronto take a look at all more likely to lose. Still, something’s attainable and the Sixers certainly wouldn’t thoughts a shock or two exterior of Philadelphia on the season’s ultimate day.
