Wednesday night gave the Portland Trail Blazers a boost in their hopes of securing a play-in spot in the Western Conference playoffs.
The Blazers (22-29) are within a realistic shot of making the playoffs after winning nine of their last ten games. However, assistance is required for the 13th-place Blazers to finish no lower than 10th.
On Wednesday, they received a good helping dose.
On Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns (25-25), Sacramento Kings (25-25), and Golden State Warriors (25-25) all suffered defeats. They started the day tied for eighth position in the Western Conference with Dallas (26-25). Wednesday was a day off for the Mavericks.
The Warriors, Kings, and Suns all ended up tied for ninth place, while the Mavericks took sole possession of eighth. The Blazers play the Kings on Thursday and are 3 1/2 games behind that group.
With their victory on Wednesday, San Antonio (22-26) is now in 12th place.
The Blazers have a good chance of being one of the three teams from ninth to thirteenth place to make it to the postseason.
But the Blazers were 7 1/2 games behind the Kings, Warriors, and Suns 10 games ago.
Jimmy Butler, who was acquired in a trade involving Andrew Wiggins, will help the Warriors, who suffered a 131–128 loss to the Utah Jazz.
The Kings are getting used to Zach LaVine replacing De Aaron Fox.
On Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, middle, drives to the hoop against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game. (Photo by Howard Lao/AP) APAP
Ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline at noon, the Suns, who lost to the Blazers on Saturday and Monday, have not yet made a bold roster move.
Fox should be a huge asset to the Spurs in addition to Victor Wembanyama.
Perhaps the finest of the group is Dallas, which acquired Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Luka Doncic.
The Blazers have 31 games left, and they need to avoid losing even a few games during which some of the aforementioned teams are playing well.
Additionally, they have to keep from losing to the teams they are pursuing, beginning with the Kings.
San Antonio, Golden State, and Sacramento are the Blazers’ next two opponents. They lost 1-3 to the Mavericks and 2-2 to the Suns.
It is conceivable to make up 3 1/2 games with 31 remaining. It would be difficult to make up seven games with, say, twenty-five left.
The Blazers play at Minnesota (28–23) and again at Denver (32–19) before the All-Star Break after hosting the Kings.
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
