NBA 2021 Playoff Watch: Odds, Scenarios and Key Matchups for May 14

Friday's NBA Playoff scenarios

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The NBA regular season concludes on Sunday, and there is still a lot to sort out.

With the addition of the play-in game, more teams are in the mix for the postseason than ever before.

We have you covered at BetQL with updates on the NBA playoff race as each team fights for seeding.

Heading into Friday night, only a pair of teams have clinched their seeds in the postseason, with 18 still in postseason limbo.

All odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted.

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Everything is Up for Grabs

With the Suns narrow victory over the Blazers on Thursday night, the Blazers fell back to the No. 6 spot. A matchup on Sunday night against the Denver Nuggets is going to have a lot on the line likely.

We'll start there. The Nuggets (-9.5) are in Detroit to play the Pistons. If the Nuggets win they keep their outside chance at the No. 3 seed alive. The Clippers (-11.5) play the lowly Rockets Friday night and the Thunder on Sunday to finish the year, so it's unlikely that Denver can catch the Clips. What's really important in all of this is that Denver could possibly in position to determine who goes into the play-in game, and also who they see in the 4-5 matchup.

There are a ton of moving parts, the Clippers and Nuggets could start resting guys in order to line themselves up correctly to avoid the Lakers.

However, what is known, is this scenario: if the Lakers and Mavericks win out, a Nuggets win over the Blazers on Sunday would send Portland into the play-in game.

Dallas is laying 13.5 points against the Raptors, and then get the Timberwolves over the weekend. The Mavericks control their own destiny out of the play-in game, so this will likely come down to LA and Portland.

Nothing Settled Until Sunday

Every team in the top seven but Phoenix won't not know their seed until late Sunday night. All the teams will tip off in the evening window except for the Suns. Phoenix kept themselves alive for the No. 1 seed on Thursday night, but need the Jazz to drop a game to the Kings or Thunder to control their own destiny.

Meanwhile, the battle for the No. 8 seed -- and two shots at making the playoffs -- will come down to Sunday. The Grizzlies (-5.5) play the Kings, and the Warriors play the Pelicans (-3), but neither game will matter. Golden State will host Memphis on Sunday in a game that will determine the tiebreaker and who gets the No. 8 seed.

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Nothing Sorted Out on Thursday

The Hawks took care of business against the Magic, holding onto the No. 4 seed in the East. If Atlanta beats Houston over the weekend, they will be hosting a first round series. But against who?

Both the Heat and Knicks won last night, but the Heat will have the tougher road this weekend. A matchup with the Bucks is on deck while the Knicks get two play-in teams in Charlotte and Boston.

Miami has the tiebreaker over New York and there is a big difference between getting the No. 5 seed or the No. 6 seed. Either team would rather face the Hawks than the Bucks in a series.

Other Scenarios

The Wizards (-9) can eliminate the Bulls from playoff contention with a win over the Cavaliers on Friday night.

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