As the Brooklyn Nets continue to fight for playoff seeding, Kyrie Irving is now able to play in home games. New York City Mayor Eric Adams lifted the mandate for unvaccinated players and performers Thursday, clearing the way for Irving to play in home games at Barclays Center. He made his Barclays debut Sunday night with 16 points and 11 assists against the Charlotte Hornets but wasn’t able to get a win as the Nets fell 119-110. Though the Nets are pleased with the news, they have just seven games remaining to climb the standings ahead of the playoffs.
In the East, the Boston Celtics continued their late-season surge by claiming the top spot, as the Miami Heat continued to falter. The Heat and Celtics share the East’s best record, while the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are just a half-game back. As Joel Embiid continues his push for MVP, reigning Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has the defending champions on the right track.
And while the race in the East will come down to the wire, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns have run away with the Western Conference — they’re now nine games ahead of the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies. Ja Morant and the Grizzlies continue to open up their lead over the Golden State Warriors, who’ve won just one game since Stephen Curry was sidelined by a foot injury and as Draymond Green struggles to find his rhythm off a two-month absence.
And LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers now trail the New Orleans Pelicans by a half-game for home-court advantage in a potential play-in matchup after blowing a 23-point lead against the Pels on Sunday.
Our experts break down the playoff races in the final update of March.
Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.
1. Phoenix…
Source : espn
