The NBA playoff positioning is intensifying with the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, and Indiana Pacers vying for the Eastern Conference's final spots. The 76ers' path to the sixth seed is complex due to tiebreaker scenarios. Despite winning the tiebreaker against Orlando, Philadelphia could fall in a three-way tie, which would favor Orlando for winning the Southeast Division and Indiana for winning the tiebreaker against Philadelphia. The 76ers could secure the sixth seed with a win and either an Orlando loss or an Indiana win. However, they could drop to the seventh seed with a win if Orlando also wins and Indiana wins, given Orlando's division victory and Indiana's tiebreaker advantage. The Cleveland Cavaliers edged out the Pacers 120-118 with 1:12 left in the 4th quarter, underscoring the critical nature of the upcoming games. The 76ers still have paths to the sixth seed, needing either Trae Young to excel against Indiana or the Bucks, likely contending for the second seed, to defeat Orlando again.
With Cavs winning tonight, 76ers will finish sixth: ā with a win and an Orlando loss or an Indiana win 76ers will finish seventh: ā with a win and an Orlando win and an Indiana win, as Magic win division and Pacers win tiebreak with Philly.
How #Cavs defeated #Pacers with trip to playoffs on the line https://t.co/8Rh1gzf3of
Well Sixers still have paths to sixth seed at least. Either need Trae Young to show out against Indy on Sunday or need the Bucks (most likely playing for the two seed?) to beat the Magic a second time.
1 game separating #4 CLE / #6 IND as they trade buckets down the stretch! @Pacers 118 @cavs 120 1:12 left in the 4th quarter on the NBA App š² https://t.co/bxDvpCjanK https://t.co/E2lcS70Yet
Magic fall into tie with Sixers. Sixers have tiebreaker. If Indiana loses, Sixers stay 7th because Magic (for now) are division winner, and Pacers have tiebreaker. If Pacers win, Sixers move to 6th.
The reason it requires a little more than just Philadelphia winning out is because while the 76ers win the tiebreaker against Orlando, in a three-way tie Orlando would finish fifth because it would win the Southeast Division. Then Philly would lose the tiebreaker with Indiana. https://t.co/SYqt4GP9ZB