One of just six NBA teams that were idle Monday, the Boston Celtics enjoyed the league’s best night.
While watching from afar, Boston clinched a playoff berth when the Brooklyn Nets lost 113-86 to the Chicago Bulls. The Celtics likely will finish with the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, which would mean a first-round series against the second-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
The battle for the final playoff spot in the East heated up thanks to the Nets’ loss. Brooklyn could have clinched a postseason berth with a victory. Instead, the Nets dropped a half-game back of the Indiana Pacers, who play host to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday before facing the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday.
Brooklyn’s last game is at home Wednesday against the Orlando Magic.
Should both the Pacers and Nets drop their remaining games, the Miami Heat could sneak in to grab the No. 8 seed. The Heat, who are 1 1/2 games behind the Pacers, close out their schedule Wednesday in Philadelphia against the 76ers.
The Bulls moved a half-game ahead of the Toronto Raptors in the race for the No. 3 spot in the East.
Both teams chasing the final Western Conference playoff berth won Monday to remain tied. The New Orleans Pelicans, who hold the tiebreaker advantage, earned a 100-88 road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Oklahoma City Thunder knocked off the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 101-90.
The Thunder end their schedule at Minnesota on Wednesday, the same night the Pelicans play host to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Houston Rockets tied the Spurs for the Southwest Division lead — and the No. 2 seed in the West — by recording a 100-90 road win over the Charlotte Hornets. The Grizzlies played the Golden State Warriors late Monday in Oakland, Calif. A Memphis win would leave the Spurs, Rockets and Grizzlies in a three-way tie for the division lead entering the final game for all three teams on Wednesday.
The Rockets conclude with a home game against the Utah Jazz, in theory, the easiest opponent any of the trio will face.
NBA PLAYOFF PICTURE THROUGH GAMES OF APRIL 13
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. *Atlanta Hawks (60-21), Southeast Division champions
2. *Cleveland Cavaliers (52-29), Central Division champions
3. *Chicago Bulls (49-32)
4. *Toronto Raptors (48-32), Atlantic Division champions
5. *Washington Wizards (46-34)
6. *Milwaukee Bucks (41-40)
7. *Boston Celtics (38-42)
8. Indiana Pacers (37-43)
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9. Brooklyn Nets (37-44)
10. Miami Heat (36-45)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. *&Golden State Warriors (65-15), Pacific Division champions
2. *San Antonio Spurs (55-26), Southwest Division co-leaders
3. *Houston Rockets (55-26), Southwest Division co-leaders
4. *Portland Trail Blazers (51-30), Northwest Division champions
5. *&Los Angeles Clippers (54-26)
6. *&Memphis Grizzlies (54-26)
7. *&Dallas Mavericks (49-31)
8. New Orleans Pelicans (44-37)
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9. Oklahoma City Thunder (44-37)
* — clinched playoff berth
& — late game not included