;

Feature

Extra Pass: Games with East seeding implications

Published April 7, 2022, 11:28 AMJC Ansis
-

Two matchups on Friday will affect what the playoff seeding will look like in the Eastern Conference.

Celtics-Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks, who hold a 49-30 record with three games left on their schedule, have a showdown with the Celtics—a matchup that could determine who ends up as the second seed in the East. Currently, Boston owns the second spot with a 50-30 record.

The Celtics also possess the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bucks with a 2-1 season series lead. If Boston beats Milwaukee on Friday, it could secure homecourt advantage if they face each other in the playoffs.

The Last time Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks took the court was against the Chicago Bulls. Milwaukee dominated the game behind an 18-7-9 line from Giannis and a 28-point effort from Brook Lopez.

The Celtics are also coming off a huge win over the Bulls on Thursday, thanks to Jaylen Brown's 25-point, 7-rebound performance.

Sixers-Raptors

The Philadelphia 76ers will take on the Toronto Raptors, and it's a game that could determine whether or not they finish in the top four in the East.

If Philly loses, Toronto still has a slight chance to get homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. A win by the Sixers in any of their three remaining games would shut down that possibility.

The Raptors clinched a playoff spot after beating the Atlanta Hawks the other day. Pascal Siakam had 31 points and 13 boards, while rookie Scottie Barnes had 19 and 14 in the win.

Philly, on the other hand, is on a three-game winning streak. Their latest win came at the expense of the Indiana Pacers. MVP candidate Joel Embiid, who is now the league's leading scorer, produced 45 points for the Sixers.

Where to watch

Filipino fans can catch the Bucks-Celtics game live tomorrow at 7:30 AM on One Sports. The 76ers-Raptors clash, which also starts at 7:30 AM, will be available on League Pass.