Bucks still have a chance to make postseason

A look at three of tonight games that will impact the NBA’s playoff picture:

Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks

With five losses in their last seven outings, the Bucks have watched their playoff hopes all but vanish. They trail Philadelphia by three games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and with three games remaining for both teams, the Sixers’ magic number is one—Philly clinches a postseason berth with one more win or one more Milwaukee loss.

For the Bucks, moving on to the playoffs is unlikely but not impossible. They’re 2-0 against the Raptors this season and should be able to handle Toronto at home tonight.

They then play in Philly on Wednesday and in Boston on Thursday, and with Celtics coach Doc Rivers electing to rest his stars rather than fight for home-court advantage, that season finale becomes very winnable.

Philadelphia 76ers at New Jersey Nets
The 76ers, of course, must choke away their last three games for the Bucks to have a chance to get an invite to the postseason party. Fortunately for Milwaukee, all three of the Sixers’ final three games are on the road. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, they’re not against teams we’d describe as world beaters.

Tonight, Philly visits the New Jersey Nets, and while the Nets have lost four straight, look for them to play with emotion since it’s their final game ever at the Prudential Center (they’re moving to Brooklyn before next season).

But even if the Sixers lose tonight and in Milwaukee on Wednesday, they finish in Detroit, where they’ll look to complete a season sweep against the Pistons.

"We can't lose any sleep over what they (the 76ers) do," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We've created the position we're in."

Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs
After the Lakers’ double overtime win over Oklahoma City yesterday —and San Antonio’s win against Cleveland—the Spurs now have a two-game lead in the loss column over the Thunder and can secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a win tonight.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, however, has not put much emphasis on getting that top seed, typically leaning toward resting his veteran stars before the playoffs. But Portland’s been playing some pretty uninspired basketball lately, losing its last five in a row, so even with a scaled-down lineup, San Antonio will be a sizable favorite to get the win on their home court.