Oklahoma Takes NBA Overall Lead; Race for West Top 6, Play-in Still On
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 21 Mar 2025
With Cleveland dropping three straight games, the Oklahoma City Thunder has assumed overall lead in the current NBA season standings by a game, 57-12 to the Cavaliers 56-13 win-loss record as of today.
However, both has 13 games to play before the season ends by mid April so the race for the best record that grants home advantage to the winner in the event both or any of the two teams advances to the Finals is still on.
Also very much in contention is the race for the Western Conference remaining three spots for the Top 4 that bears home advantage in the playoffs, among the four squads, namely Houston Rockets (currently 45-25) Denver Nuggets (44-26), Los Angeles Lakers (43-26),and Memphis Grizzlies (43-27).
Though with slim mathematical chance for Top 4, the Golden State Warriors (41-29) and Los Angeles Clippers (39-30) are most likely seen to be jostling for the sixth spot that automatically advances to the playoffs against whoever ends up #3 seed.
The flunker from the fight for #6 will battle the Minnesota Timberwolves (currently 40-31) in the play-in round for the 7th seed. The loser will then battle the winner of the play-in between the #9 and #10 teams, currently Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns or Dallas Mavericks.
Every win therefore counts in finalising the top six seeds and determining who advances via the sudden death play-in round for the 7th and 8th seeds.
Phoenix won yesterday against Chicago Bulls, 127-121 and has temporarily nudged Dallas from the 10th place though they are statistically tied currently at 33-37.
However, the Suns will be hosting the Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics in their next three games before visiting Minnesota and Houston to end the month.
Meanwhile, Dallas which has lost four straight games, will be hosting Detroit Pistons tomorrow before heading to a long four game tour of the East against Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls to wind up March.
The prospects don't look good for the Mavericks which have been on a spiral since they traded Luka Doncic and been hit by spate of injuries that reduced them to basically only eight players per outing.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Juarez defeats Valle by split decision to retain WBC belt in El Paso,Texas
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 31 May 2026Jose Sulaiman's 95th birthday is being celebrated with events around the world
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 31 May 2026Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan is now one of the IBF board of directors
Sun, 31 May 2026Cavite Inter-Town Chess Tournament gets underway
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 31 May 2026Lieutenant Delfin Boholst: Soldier, Boxing Coach, Mentor
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 30 May 2026O’Shaquie Foster vs Raymond Ford: Bad Blood Equals Good Fight
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 30 May 2026WBC Issues Rules Clarification for Designating David Benavidez Mandatory Challenger to Noel Mikaelian External Inbox Andre Courtemanche -- Big Media Buzz
Sat, 30 May 2026FOSTER VS. FORD – WEIGHTS AND THE FINAL WORD AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
Sat, 30 May 2026AWE to Air Live the WBC World Title Rematch of Kevin Lerena v. Ryad Merhy this Saturday
Sat, 30 May 2026Juego Todo exists in two powerful dimensions
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 30 May 2026‘The Homecoming’ Postponed in Vancouver
Sat, 30 May 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo to Defend Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Titles Against the Philippines’ Joey Canoy
Sat, 30 May 2026Canoy now trains at MP Davao for Collazo's fight
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 30 May 2026Johann Chua claims Duya Airplay Sport 5800 Charity Cup Crown, pockets US$50,000 tops prize
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 30 May 2026“While others debate governance, the IBA continues to deliver.” IBA CEO & Secretary General Chris Roberts OBE on the organisation’s resilience and global ambition
Sat, 30 May 2026