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:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Great Virtues of Champions
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Fri, 31 Oct 2025‘HAPPY’ HEAVYWEIGHT THOMPSON READY FOR PERO WAR
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Lakers Sale Approved: Mark Walter Takes Majority Stake, Ending Buss Family Era
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 31 Oct 2025SBA Season 2 Kicks Off November 10
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 31 Oct 2025History made twice over
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 31 Oct 2025ORLANDO PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AND VIDEO: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID BETWEEN LENIER PERO, JORDAN THOMPSON AND UNDERCARD
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Biado, Magpantay enter last 32 round of Qatar World Cup 10-Ball
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 31 Oct 2025Shaw vs Woodward Return for the 2025 Mosconi Cup!
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Mavericks-Pistons ready for 34th NBA game in Mexico
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 31 Oct 2025Stars of the show
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 30 Oct 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON SET FOR DECEMBER 13 IN LOS ANGELES
Thu, 30 Oct 2025Carcosia to fight Ogawa in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 30 Oct 2025ERISLANDY LARA VS. JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP UNIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS STAR-STUDDED PITBULL VS. ROACH PPV UNDERCARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Thu, 30 Oct 2025Santiago City in Veraguas, Panama, hosts a historic WBA world championship night
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 30 Oct 2025Weights From Liverpool, New York
Thu, 30 Oct 2025