AccuScore has simulated all of the remaining NBA regular season games to come up with odds for each team in the playoff race. Here’s the full 2019 NBA playoff picture as teams prepare for the stretch run.
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NBA playoffs 2019: Eastern Conference odds
NBA playoffs 2019: Western Conference odds
Playoff locks: Bucks, Raptors, 76ers, Pacers, Celtics, Warriors, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Rockets, Jazz and Clippers.
Eliminated: Hawks, Bulls, Cavs, Knicks, Wizards, Timberwolves, Lakers, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Mavericks and Suns.
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The East simulations indicate there are essentially two spots up for grabs among four teams: the Pistons, Magic, Heat and Hornets. The Pistons and Heat currently hold the last playoff spots, and Detroit has the best odds in that final group (nearly 69 percent).
Even though Orlando recently rattled off a six-game winning streak, simulations predict that Miami is the team to beat for the last playoff berth. The Heat’s chances are above 56 percent, while the Magic and Hornets are down below 40 percent.
The West playoff picture is already set — it’s just a matter of seeding. The Thunder and Spurs have not officially entered the postseason field, but their playoff odds are over 99 percent. The Kings are not yet eliminated, but they are 6.5 games behind San Antonio with seven games remaining. It’s only a matter of time.
The main West storyline is the winner of the Northwest Division. The Nuggets currently hold a three-game lead over the Trail Blazers. However, it’s unlikely Portland can catch Denver, especialy after Blazers starting center Jusuf Nurkic suffered a fractured left tibia and fibula, ending his season.
The Pacific and Southwest Divisions are all but clinched by the Warriors and Rockets, the two participants in last year’s Western Conference finals series.
