Overview:

Sixers pick (currently 3rd):

• No games impacted the Sixers pick.

Lakers pick (top 5 protected, currently 4th)

• No games impacted the Lakers pick.

Heat pick (top 10 protected, currently 15th):

• Miami lost (good): Miami lost, which I’m still marking down as good, but it’s getting close. Miami is now tied for 11th with both Utah and Boston, and only 1.5 up on 10th-slotted Charlotte. As long as Charlotte or Indiana don’t pass Miami, that’s great, but this is going to come down to the wire.

Oklahoma City Thunder pick (top 18 protected, currently 18th):

• No games impacted OKC’s pick.

Tonight’s games:

• OKC @ Grizzlies: Another huge game. OKC is tied with Washington in that 18th spot. With Washington playing New York, an OKC win is likely a must to keep pace with the Wizards.
• Pelicans @ Kings: The Pelicans are only 1.5 games back on OKC, so I think OKC has suffcient pressure to keep trying to win games. I’d probably be okay if the Pelicans lost this game. I want the Pelicans close, but not to pass OKC
• Hornets @ Pacers: At this point, either team winning is cause for concern. I probably think there’s less of a chance that Indy passes Miami than Charlotte does, so I’m probably rooting for Indy.
• Knicks @ Wizards: Go Knicks. Really, if the Knicks could find a way to win a game, this would be the one to do it. Not only would the Knicks get a victory (which is unlikely to really matter at this point), but Washington picking up an unexpected loss would be great for the OKC pick.
• Bucks @ Celtics: The Bucks losing isn’t ideal, but there is now 3 games separating 17th-slotted Milwaukee with 15th-slotted Miami. Boston is tied with Miami, and I’m still hoping that they pass Miami, but this whole situation is getting too close for comfort again, with Miami only 2 games up on the 9th worst record and 1.5 games up on the 10th worst.
• Raptors @ Nets: The Raptors aren’t really in play anymore with the OKC pick, as they’re 3 games up on OKC, but keeping them as a backup plan would be great. A Nets win also increases the chances they finish with a better record than Miami, which would help the Miami pick end up in 11-12 rather than 15-16.
• Pistons @ Bulls: Like the Raptors, the Bulls are 3 games up on OKC. They’re unlikely to be in play, but either of them falling back and opening up a backup plan to OKC finishing with a better record than Washington would be great.
• Magic @ Wolves: Big game. A Wolves win keeps open two prayers: that the Sixers could end up with the 2nd worst record, and that the Lakers could catch Orlando.
• Blazers @ Lakers: Go Lakers. One or two more wins by the Lakers would really put the Sixers in the drivers seat for the 3rd most ping pong balls, and also open up possibility of the Lakers catching Orlando.