Are you a Clippers fan who isn’t sure who to root for in the NBA’s August 14th bubble games? Yeah, me too.
Over the last two weeks, each of the 22 teams in the NBA’s bubble has played 8 games–or will play their 8th game today. It’s been one of the best stretches of regular season play in recent memory, with almost every game having ramifications on playoff berths and seeding races. Yesterday, for example, saw Memphis, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Portland all entering play within a half game of each other, battling for spots in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
That excitement ended yesterday, though. The NBA’s August 14th schedule features the final four “seeding” bubble games, though none will have significance as the playoff picture has been finalized in both conferences, reducing Friday’s games to simple exhibitions where teams will look to stay healthy and prepare for the playoffs to begin on Monday.
Let’s take a peek at the games and review Thursday’s action.
The NBA’s August 14th Bubble Games
All times Pacific Time.
Denver Nuggets vs Toronto Raptors, 10:30am, NBA League Pass
Rooting for: Toronto Raptors
Look, we’re splitting hairs to really find any angles today, and neither of these teams are going to treat this game as anything more than a pre-season contest before they open their first-round playoff series on Monday. But if the option is a feel-good win for Denver’s second unit guys, or Toronto taking care of business and the Nuggets not building some momentum? I’ll take the Raps.
Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers, 1:00pm, ESPN
Rooting for: Indiana Pacers
This game actually has seeding implications! Just none that matter. The Heat and Pacers are tied for 4th in the Eastern Conference, meaning they’re guaranteed to play each other in the 4-5 first round series regardless of the outcome today. Normally, it would be a significant one for home-court advantage–but inside the bubble, it’ll only determine what color jersey each team wears.
Believe it or not, that’s why we’re rooting for the Pacers. If they’re wearing their home whites, that makes it more likely that we’ll see Miami’s blue and pink vice alternates. That’s all I’ve got.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs LA Clippers, 3:30pm, ESPN
Rooting for: LA Clippers
Hey, in a game that doesn’t matter, why not root for the good guys? Hopefully the starters play limited minutes, and everyone stays healthy. Maybe we can get some nice Amir Coffey and Terance Mann minutes.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Houston Rockets, 6:00pm, ESPN
Rooting for: Houston Rockets
Opposite of Denver here–it would be nice for the Rockets to get some good reps in without Russell Westbrook to build confidence and prepare to play first-round games without him.
Yesterday’s Games
Washington Wizards 96, Boston Celtics 90
Sacramento Kings 136, Los Angeles Lakers 122
New Orleans Pelicans 127, Orlando Magic 133
Nothing to see here.
Milwaukee Bucks 106, Memphis Grizzlies 119
Dallas Mavericks 102, Phoenix Suns 128
The day’s quartet of important games began with these two being played simultaneously in the 1:00pm slot. The Grizzlies needed a win to clinch a spot in the play-in tournament, and they came through–albeit against a Bucks team that had nothing on the line. On their court, Phoenix also found a win (albeit against a similarly nonchalant Dallas side), giving them a perfect 8-0 record in the bubble.
But the Suns’ bubble dominance wasn’t enough to guarantee them a spot in the play-in tournament due to their extreme struggle in the pre-COVID regular season. And, while the Grizzlies are shorthanded and finished just 2-6 in Orlando, their lead coming in to the bubble was large enough to all but guarantee they’d end up in the play-in.
Their eventual elimination, by way of a Portland Trail Blazers win later in the day, is a bit of a tragedy. Hopefully they’re able to take the last two weeks’ lessons with them into next season, whenever that is.
San Antonio Spurs 112, Utah Jazz 118
This could have been a high-stakes, win-or-go-home game for the Spurs if at least one of Phoenix or Memphis had lost in the 1:00pm slot–but as it was, the Spurs were eliminated by tip-off, and rested several key players en route to a loss. For their part, the Jazz mixed resting several players with low minutes for Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles, as this turned into a battle of second and third strings.
Portland Trail Blazers 134, Brooklyn Nets 133
This was it–the nightcap that would determine the final play-in pairing. If Portland won, they’d finish 8th to Memphis’ 9th. If the Blazers fell short, Memphis would be 8th to Phoenix’s 9th.
I had a rough time deciding who I would rather make the play-in tournament between Portland and Phoenix, who were the two most impressive teams competing for these spots. After Memphis won and clinched their spot, I decided to back Portland, simply because the Blazers only need to beat the Grizzlies once to make the playoffs out of the 8th spot, while Phoenix would have needed back-to-back wins in the play-in tournament to advance.
Dame and the Blazers came through–though by the skin of their teeth, needing a Caris LeVert miss at the buzzer to win by one point and stay alive.
The Blazers will play the Grizzlies at 11:30am on Saturday. Hopefully they win so that Damian Lillard and the rest of the Blazers can rest up for Tuesday’s game one against the Lakers instead of needing a second leg of the play-in contest on Sunday.
Stay tuned to 213Hoops for coverage of the NBA playoffs.
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