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:
Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 11 Feb 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Wed, 11 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
By Eric Armit, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
Tue, 10 Feb 202619-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
Tue, 10 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Tue, 10 Feb 2026