Jazz Still Playing For Fifth Seed

Apr 8, 2019, 4:16 PM

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against JaVale McGee #7 and Mike Muscala #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Staples Center on April 07, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

(Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

BY TREVOR ALLEN, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA season is down to one or two games left in the season. Only one seed is locked up with the Warriors picking up the No. 1 spot. The Utah Jazz are one win away from clinching the fifth spot.

Denver needs one win and they keep the No. 2 spot.

Oklahoma City can take the fifth seed if the Jazz lose their last two and they win their last two games.

Here’s a look at the current standings and who each team is facing next in the homestretch of the season:

1. Golden State Warriors (56-24)

Games Remaining: 2 (at NOP, at MEM)

Next Up: at New Orleans Pelicans (33-48), Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The Warriors clinched the No. 1-seed in the western conference after they beat the Los Angeles Clippers 131-104 on Sunday. They will likely rest players on the road before the playoffs start.

Last regular season road trip ✈️ pic.twitter.com/BeVUoy0Zh7

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 8, 2019

2. Denver Nuggets (53-27)

Games Behind: 3

Games Remaining: 2 (at UTAH, MIN)

Next Up: at Utah Jazz (49-31), Tuesday at 7 p.m. on AT&T SportsNet.

The Nuggets split their two games against the Blazers last week. On Sunday, they rested their starters and lost 115-108 in Portland. They need to win one more game to clinch the No. 2-seed in the west.

Just landed for our last road game of the regular season!#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/8QJlPI2jm6

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 8, 2019

3. Houston Rockets (53-28)

Games Behind: 3.5

Games Remaining: 1

Next Up: at Oklahoma City Thunder (47-33), Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.

The Rockets need to beat the Thunder on Tuesday and have the Nuggets lose one of their next two games to have a shot at the No. 2 spot. Oklahoma City leads the season series 2-1.

Practice in H-Town before heading to OKC for our final regular season game. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/dZ0GeL62pQ

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 8, 2019

4. Portland Trail Blazers (51-29)

Games Behind: 5

Games Remaining: 2 (at LAL, SAC)

Next Up: at Los Angeles Lakers (37-44), Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.

The Trail Blazers are trying to limp into the playoffs with home court advantage. With their big win over the Nuggets on Sunday, it looks like they will be the No. 4-seed facing the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.

One step closer to home court.

📸@bruceely: https://t.co/mw2lhAcw2e pic.twitter.com/F0TkiBhJQI

— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 8, 2019

5. Utah Jazz (49-31)

Games Behind: 7

Games Remaining: 2 (DEN, at LAC)

Next Up: vs. Denver Nuggets (53-27), Tuesday at 7 p.m. on AT&T SportsNet.

The Jazz won’t be getting home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They still have something to play for in their final two games. If they lose their last two games and Oklahoma City wins their next two games, Utah will drop to the sixth seed.

Rudy: 21p | 10r | 2b | 2a
Donovan: 19p | 5a | 2s | 2r
Georges: 16p | 2r | 1a | 1s | 1b
Thabo: 13p | 5s | 4r | 3 3pm | 2a |
Joe: 12p | 8a | 4r | 3 3pm | 1s
Jae: 11p | 6r | 2a
Royce: 9p | 5r | 3 3pm | 3a | 1s
Grayson: 5p | 1r | 1a
Ekpe: 3p | 1b | 1r | 1a pic.twitter.com/ejOiXaZvl9

— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 8, 2019

6. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-33)

Games Behind: 9

Games Remaining: 2 (HOU, at MIL)

Next Up: vs. Houston Rockets (53-28), Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.

The Thunder are fighting for a sixth-seed or even the fifth spot in the standings. They would need to beat the Bucks and Rockets. The Bucks game is more likely to get a win, with Milwaukee already clinching home court advantage throughout the eastern conference.

Hot Start, Strong Finish for Thunder for Third-Straight Win.

📝 // https://t.co/vOlQyszEcP pic.twitter.com/hwtLSE2LYM

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 8, 2019

7. San Antonio Spurs (47-34)

Games Behind: 9.5

Games Remaining: 1

Next Up: vs. Dallas Mavericks (32-48), Wednesday at 6 p.m.

It has turned into a battle of who can avoid the Golden State Warriors in the first round. It will come down to the last night of the season before that is determined. San Antonio has a better chance than the Clippers. The Spurs have won all three games against the Mavericks this season.

Final road game of the regular season resulted in a victory!

Highlights from Cleveland 🎥 pic.twitter.com/ZdL0LD6ADX

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 7, 2019

8. LA Clippers (47-34)

Games Behind: 9.5

Games Remaining: 1

Next Up: vs. Utah Jazz (49-31), Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

The Clippers haven’t been able to knock off the Jazz this season. They have lost two straight and are in danger of being stuck with the No. 8-seed and a matchup with the Golden State Warriors.