Are you a Clippers fan who isn’t sure who to root for in the NBA’s August 13th bubble games? You’re in the right place.
With each team playing just eight “seeding games” in Orlando before the playoffs begin, there’s limited time to both battle for playoff positioning as well as build momentum after a four-month layoff. That means that, while we obviously want the Clippers to be successful, Clippers fans can’t just pay attention to LAC–nearly every game played in the NBA over this two-week span is important to the playoff picture.
While Wednesday’s games featured the teams competing in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference, Thursday is full of exciting, high-stakes action for teams on the outside looking in. Let’s take a look at Thursday’s NBA games and odds.
The NBA’s August 13th Bubble Games
All times Pacific Time.
Washington Wizards vs Boston Celtics, 9:00am, NBA League Pass, Celtics as 2.5-point favorites
Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30am, NBA League Pass, Lakers as 4.5-point favorites
Rooting for: the next games to start
This is going to be the most exciting day of bubble play. But the first two of the NBA’s August 14th bubble games are a bit of duds. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are already past seeding play, having already clinched the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference and 1st seed in the Western Conference, respectively. The Wizards and Kings, on the other hand, were already eliminated from playoff contention and are wrapping up their time in the bubble. Boston and Los Angeles will both likely take it easy today, with nothing on the line and no reason to risk injury. Washington and Sacramento are a coin flip—will some of their young guys come out with a little fight in what will be their last game for months, or will they be daydreaming about getting to go home after the game?
Milwaukee Bucks vs Memphis Grizzlies, 1:00pm, NBA League Pass, Bucks as 3-point favorites
Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns, 1:00pm, TNT, Suns as 5.5-point favorites
Rooting for: Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns
I lumped the first two games together because neither of them matter in the playoff races in either conference. I’m lumping these two together because the next 4 of the NBA’s August 13th bubble games are so impactful that the order in which they’re played actually matters—the results from these 1pm games will inform what we know going into crucial games at 3:30pm and 6pm.
In these 1pm contests, we have two teams fighting for their play-in lives facing off against two teams that are locked in to their playoff seeds. The Milwaukee Bucks have coasted throughout the bubble, and could be without Giannis Antetokounmpo in this game pending league discipline for headbutting Moe Wagner Tuesday night. Can the Grizzlies, who have struggled throughout the bubble, survive?
If Memphis wins, they’ll improve to 2-6 in bubble play clinch a spot in the play-in tournament (8th if Portland loses later Thursday evening, 9th if the Blazers win that finale). That leaves Phoenix, Portland, and San Antonio all competing for the other spot. If Memphis loses, that alone doesn’t leave them officially out of it—but they almost definitely will be. At 1-7, they can no longer finish ahead of Portland and would need Phoenix and San Antonio to lose today in order to finish in 9th.
The Suns similarly need a win here. While the win alone wouldn’t clinch a spot for them, it keeps the door open. A Phoenix loss would leave them at an impressive 7-1 in the bubble, but eliminate them from the play-in race due to the large deficit in the standings they were facing entering the seeding games. With a win, they’d reach 8-0 and need a loss from just one of Memphis or Portland.
Let’s look at the possible outcomes at 3:30pm when these games end:
1. Memphis wins, Phoenix wins: The Grizzlies clinch a play-in spot, and Phoenix clinches a top-10 finish (meaning the Spurs, who play their finale at 3:30pm, are eliminated). If Portland wins the 6pm game, it’s 8. Portland vs 9. Memphis, and the Suns miss out. If Portland loses the 6pm game, it’s 8. Memphis vs 9. Phoenix, and the Blazers miss out.
2. Memphis wins, Phoenix loses: The Grizzlies clinch a play-in spot, and the Suns are eliminated. Pending the final games, Portland – Memphis (PDX win), Memphis – Portland (PDX loss, SAS loss), and Memphis – San Antonio (PDX loss, SAS win) are possible play-in outcomes.
3. Memphis loses, Phoenix wins: The Suns clinch a play-in spot, and the Grizzlies are eliminated. Pending the final games, Portland – Phoenix (PDX win), Phoenix – Portland (PDX loss, SAS loss), and Phoenix – San Antonio (PDX loss, SAS win) are possible play-in outcomes.
4. Memphis loses, Phoenix loses: The Suns are eliminated, and the Blazers clinch a play-in spot before they even hit the court. Memphis is left watching the Spurs play after them and hoping that San Antonio loses. The possible play-in outcomes are Portland – Memphis (SAS loss), Portland – San Antonio (PDX win, SAS win), or San Antonio – Portland (SAS win, PDX loss).
San Antonio Spurs vs Utah Jazz, 3:30pm, TNT, Spurs as 7.5-point favorites
Rooting for: Utah Jazz
The NBA’s August 13th bubble games continue with play-in race action. The Spurs enter Thursday in the clearly weakest position of these four competing teams. It’s entirely possible that Memphis and Phoenix both win in the 1pm time slot, and the Spurs are eliminated without getting to play. If one of those teams loses, the door is still open for the Spurs with a win, but they don’t control their own destiny unless both the Grizzlies and Suns lose.
San Antonio sits in a strange middle ground here: the Blazers and Suns have both excelled in the bubble. While none of these teams are going to beat the Lakers in the first round, there are clear arguments for Portland and Phoenix as the two most compelling playoff opponents for the West’s tough team (it’s hard for me to pick between them). If possible, I’d like to see those two teams play each other in the play-in. If not, I’d rather whichever one emerges play against shorthanded Memphis, who would make for easier competition (and therefore potential rest) en route to the Western Conference playoffs.
Either way, it’s time for the Spurs to gracefully exit and clear the way for Portland and/or Phoenix. A Spurs loss eliminates them, no matter what else happens, therefore guaranteeing that at least one of those two other teams makes the play-in.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Brooklyn Nets, 6:00pm, TNT, Trail Blazers as 9-point favorites
Rooting for: it’s complicated
Okay, so check this out. If Portland is your preferred team to face the Lakers, you want them to win this game. Easy. They might not need to win it, based on what happens earlier in the day, but no matter what, a win here means guaranteed 8-seed in the play-in.
The tricky bit is I’m going to—and it’s a hard choice—switch and throw my support behind the Phoenix Suns. The Trail Blazers have been undeniably impressive in the bubble—the Suns have just simply been more impressive. Damian Lillard has literally made himself into a legend, but Devin Booker has been no bubble slouch either, and Mikal Bridges is a better bet to guard LeBron James than anyone the Blazers have by… a lot. Throw in CJ McCollum playing through a lower back fracture, and I’m ready to endorse the Suns.
What does that mean? It means whether I want Portland to win or lose this game depends on what happens earlier in the day. For example, any scenario where the Suns lose, we want Portland to win. Phoenix would be eliminated, and our hopes go back to the Blazers by default. If Phoenix wins and Memphis loses, the door is open for a Portland – Phoenix play-in—the perfect way to determine which squad should get to face the Lakers in round 1. A Blazers win would set up that match-up.
But if Phoenix wins and Memphis wins, we would need Portland to lose so that the Suns aren’t eliminated. And (one last twist) if Phoenix wins, Memphis loses, and San Antonio loses, we’d get Portland vs Phoenix whether the Blazers win or lose—but their game would determine who finishes 8th and who finishes 9th between the two.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Orlando Magic, 6:00pm, NBA League Pass, Magic as 3.5-point favorites
Rooting for: Orlando Magic… and Sindarius Thornwell
Ok, let’s catch our breath for a second. The NBA’s August 13th bubble games are headlined by the four games we broke down above, which will determine the Western Conference play-in tournament. This co-nightcap (come on, everyone is gonna be watching the Blazers) doesn’t have much meaning—the Pelicans are eliminated and the Magic are locked into the 8-seed in the East (where there won’t be a play-in tournament).
So, our vague rooting interest here is that it would be nice if Orlando—who have lost their last 5 games in a row—could get a little positive momentum going before their first-round series against the Bucks. They won’t win that series in a million years, but they’re competitive it means extra minutes (or even an extra game!) for the Bucks’ stars.
Also, keep an eye on Sindarius Thornwell on New Orleans’ bench. He had 7 points and 3 assists off the bench on Tuesday, and Clippers fans would love to see him find a home in the league for next season.
Yesterday’s Games
Indiana Pacers 108, Houston Rockets 104
We were rooting for: Indiana Pacers
The Pacers did the Clippers a huge favor early on Wednesday, locking Houston out of a top-3 finish and freeing LA to beat the Nuggets on Wednesday night without any concern of the Rockets passing Denver for third. Eric Gordon returned to action, but Russell Westbrook left the game with a quad injury that could cost him playoff games. That could impact the Rockets’ first-round pairing with Oklahoma City and if his absence is extended it would severely set them back against the Lakers in the second round.
Toronto Raptors 125, Philadelphia 76ers 121
We were rooting for: Toronto Raptors
This was a fun game, albeit one that neither team cared enough about to play their starters down the stretch. Between this and Indiana’s aforementioned win, the Sixers are all set to face Boston in the 3-6 series.
Miami Heat 115, Oklahoma City Thunder 116
We were rooting for: Miami Heat
The Thunder pulled this one out, which isn’t the worst thing in the world, even though we were rooting for Miami. An OKC loss would have kept the door open for them to fall to 6th with a Utah win against the Spurs Thursday and a Clippers win over OKC Friday. The thinking goes that OKC would be a tougher first-round match-up for Denver and leave them more tired coming into the second round.
But, even if OKC had lost here, the Jazz would have almost certainly thrown their last game to ensure they avoided the Rockets, making it irrelevant. As it is, the Jazz now have no reason to win or lose tomorrow… so maybe they put up a better fight vs the Spurs than they would have if they needed a loss?
LA Clippers 124, Denver Nuggets 111
We were rooting for: LA Clippers
With Houston’s loss, the Clippers faced no risk of Denver dropping to 4th here. With the win, they clinched the 2-seed–the best standings finish in franchise history–and a first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. Denver is clinched at 3rd, against the Jazz. Now all eyes are on the 8-seed in the West.
Stay tuned in to 213Hoops every day of the NBA’s Orlando Bubble for a new Rooting Interests.
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