BOSTON — The Boston Celtics are the primary group within the NBA to clinch a playoff spot this season, as their 127-112 win over the Phoenix Suns pushed them to 52-14. With the Philadelphia 76ers shedding to the Milwaukee Bucks 114-105, the Celtics have a 16-game lead over the sixth seed and are formally a lock to make the postseason.
The Celtics have held a cushty lead atop the standings for months, tied with the 2015-16 Spurs for the fourth-best web ranking in NBA historical past at 11.3. They’re on tempo for the franchise’s first 60-win season since they went 62-20 in 2008-09. They’ve improved to 30-3 at dwelling and gained 15 of their final 17 video games.
Jaylen Brown went on a tear for 37 factors on 14-for-23 taking pictures in Thursday’s win, whereas Al Horford tied a career-high with six 3-pointers beginning rather than the injured Kristaps Porziņģis. The group tied a season-high with 25 3-pointers, two in need of the franchise document.
As Porziņģis continues to nurse a hamstring pressure, the Celtics solely have six video games left towards groups above the Play-In Event within the standings. That is Boston’s second win over the Suns prior to now week and their fourth win in a row after a quick shedding streak towards fellow contenders Cleveland and Denver. Whereas the Celtics have carried out on their very own aircraft all season, the Nuggets are the one group that has overwhelmed them persistently.
Can Boston win the East’s prime seed?
With a 9.5-game lead getting into Thursday, the Celtics are headed for the highest seed within the Jap Convention. Their playoff draw could possibly be harmful with the 76ers and Miami Warmth amongst a gaggle of proficient groups within the combine for the Play-In Event. Ought to Joel Embiid return wholesome from a knee damage or Miami remodel into its regular late-season type, Boston may have an especially harmful first-round draw. With different threats just like the Bucks, Cavaliers and New York Knicks lurking, the Celtics gained’t have a straightforward Jap Convention path.
They’ve performed like a heavy favourite within the convention, although. As of Thursday night, Basketball-Reference.com’s playoff likelihood instrument gave them a 75.8-percent probability of reaching the NBA Finals and a 59.3-percent probability of profitable the franchise’s first championship since 2008. These odds, based mostly on 10,000 simulations of the remainder of the season, is likely to be too optimistic in Boston’s favor however mirror simply how statistically dominant the Celtics have been to date. They entered Thursday with an 11.3 web ranking, which was almost seven factors per 100 possessions higher than that of the second-best group within the East (Cleveland). — Jay King, Celtics beat author
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(Photograph: Maddie Meyer / Getty Pictures)