NBA expected to resume July 31 with 22 teams
The NBA is planning to resume play on July 31 in Orlando with 22 teams, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The 16 current playoff teams will be joined by the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards. Each team will play eight games before the playoffs for seeding purposes. If the 9th seed is within four games of the 8th seed, then there will be a play-in for the last spot that requires double-elimination for the 8th seed and single-elimination for the 9th seed. The 16 playoff teams are: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets, and Orlando Magic.
The Bucks are the top team in numberFire's NBA Team Power Rankings and our models give them a 55.8 percent chance of winning the title. The Lakers are next at 22.0 percent.
- Spurs' Keldon Johnson (knee) questionable on Friday March 28th, 2024
- Anthony Edwards (back) questionable for Minnesota on Friday March 28th, 2024
- Utah's Jordan Clarkson (back) out again for Friday March 28th, 2024
- Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert (rib) questionable on Friday March 28th, 2024
- Sam Hauser coming off the bench for Boston on Thursday March 28th, 2024
- Celtics' Jrue Holiday (shoulder) starting on Thursday, Sam Hauser coming off the bench March 28th, 2024
- Anthony Davis (knee) questionable for Lakers on Friday March 28th, 2024
- Lakers' LeBron James (ankle) questionable on Friday March 28th, 2024
- Spencer Dinwiddie playing with Lakers' second unit on Wednesday night March 27th, 2024
- Lakers starting LeBron James (ankle) on Wednesday, Spencer Dinwiddie to second unit March 27th, 2024
- Lakers starting Jaxson Hayes for injured Anthony Davis (knee) on Wednesday March 27th, 2024
- LeBron James (ankle) available for Lakers on Wednesday night March 27th, 2024