Progsport Basketball Prediction

After this defeat suffered against the NY Knicks in the middle of the week 112-106 in Madison Square Garden, the Boston Celtics team had to win straight away against the New Orleans Pelicans in order to definitively validate 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. It's done after an easy 144-118 success, the 5th in the last 6 games. The Magic, who have five wins in a row, can still hope to finish 6th provided they beat the Celtics, and count on a setback for the Raptors against the Nets. This is the very annoying little condition to check for Banchero's partners who seem capable of beating the demotivated Celtics in the TD Garden. On the other hand, it is difficult to see the Raptors falling against this Nets formation. On the penultimate day, Orlando beat Chicago 103-127 to achieve a 5th consecutive success. 

The Houston Rockets are condemned to finish this 2026 season in 5th place in the Western Conference. Beaten by the Timberwolves 132-136 on the night of Friday to Saturday, Kevin Durant's teammates will play the Denver Nuggets 3rd or the Los Angeles Lakers 4th in the 1st round. Too bad to have taken this setback for the Rockets, after a series of 8 victories. A very rotten 2025-26 season for the Grizzlies which began with the transfer of Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, then continued with the transfer of Jackson Jr to the Jazz, when for the moment Morant is still in the group but on the move. The Grizzlies, 12th in the Western Conference 25 wins - 56 losses, lost a 7th game in a row to the Utah Jazz 48 hours ago 147-101. 

The Los Angeles Lakers 4th had been beaten 3 times in a row: ahead of the champion OKC 139-96, then against the Mavericks 134-128 and again against the Thunder 87-123 for a second volley received but this time at home. With their backs against the wall, the Californians took their destiny in their hands by beating the Warriors 103-119 this week in the Bay, before hurting the Suns 101-73 24 hours later. Los Angeles, this evening, has a good chance of regaining 3rd place given that Denver has numerous absences this evening while traveling to the Spurs. The players of the Utah Jazz, 15th in the West 22 wins - 59 losses, will paradoxically be among the teams to follow for next year. The highlighting of young boys who are exploding like George and Sensabaugh, allowed the managers to remain hopeful in order to keep Markkanen and recruit Jackson Jr with a view to displaying solid ambitions for next year. After a very big series of defeats, the Utah Jazz won their last match played on the night of Friday to Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies 147-101. 

Has the enormous dependence on Luka Doncic, who left for the LA Lakers last season, been forgotten for the Texan team? No way. The results of this season are zero. Indeed, between a struggling defense, an Irving at 0 games and late adjustments, Dallas 13th, 25 wins - 56 losses made for a rotten season. The Texan team finally lost its last 3 games in the NBA: against the Los Angeles Clippers 116-103, Phoenix Suns 112-107 and San Antonio Spurs 139-120. The Chicago Bulls, 12th in the East 31 wins - 50 losses, ended a not-so-horrible season after all with 2 wins in 3 games. It's really not bad for a 12th in the East except that the 2 successes were acquired in front of the dunces of Washington 98-129, 108-119. So to put it into perspective... Opposed to Orlando on the penultimate day of the regular season, Chicago logically fell to a team still looking for a better place in the East 103-127. 

Before putting down the school bags at home and preparing summer gear, the Indiana Pacers will go on vacation with a heavy heart. What a lousy season from the reigning Eastern Conference champion. A sad 14th place in the East, a sad record of 19 victories - 62 defeats, but some successes to note on the other hand to conclude with no less than 4 victories in 10 matches. Winner on the night from Thursday to Friday of the Nets 94-123, Indiana 24 hours later did not compete against the 76ers 94-105. The Detroit Pistons, assured of finishing as leader of the Eastern Conference after a success over the Philadelphia 76ers 93-116 last week, are impatiently waiting to discover the identity of their future opponent who will be Miami 10th, Charlotte 9th, Philly 8th or Orlando 7th. Very heavy to start the adventure in the Play-offs, potential opponents who show to what extent the Eastern Conference has raised its level of play this season. The Pistons, very serious despite the lack of challenge at the end of the regular season, won their last match against the Hornets 100-118.