Golden State ended the 2023/24 season on a roll, but weren’t able to clinch a direct Playoff berth in a very contested Western Conference. However, with a 56.1 winning percentage, the Warriors became the best 10th-ranked team in NBA history.

Yep, you read correctly, nobody has ever produced a 46-36 record and ended 10th in this league, a mark they secured after beating the Jazz 123-116 on Sunday at Chase Center. Now, they are set to face the Kings for a spot in the Play-in tournament, which is a clash that has proved to be a classic Californian rivalry.

Just last season, as Sacramento made the Playoffs for the first time in 17 years, both squads faced each other in the first round but Golden State emerged victorious in a tight series. Now Mike Brown’s squad hopes to take revenge despite producing a much weaker campaign than they did last year.

Winningest Seasons as a 10th Seed in NBA History:

1. 2024 Warriors – 46-36 (.560)
2. 2001 Sonics – 44-38 (.537)
3. 2022 Hornets – 43-39 (.524)
4. 2018 Clippers – 42-40 (.512)
5. 6 tied – 41-41 (.500)

FROM 73 WINS 8 YEARS AGO TO THIS! WE STAY BREAKING RECORDS!

— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) April 15, 2024

“Well really, I’m happy with the way [the season] unfolded over the last couple of months,” Steve Kerr said after defeating Utah. “We were a little bit in disarray for a while early in the season, trying to find ourselves, and a lot of guys really stepped up not only on the court but off the court, in the locker room.”

The coach is convinced that the squad is currently playing at their best. “We have a really good connection on this team, good chemistry, guys pulling for each other, putting in the work. So I’ve got a good, good feeling about what’s ahead. I think we still have a chance to do something special,” he assured.

The Warriors know very well how it feels to be counted out and then surprise everyone with a championship run, just like they did in the 2022 NBA Finals. The Bay Area team hope to prove doubters wrong, and show why seeding is just a number.

Kerr compared Tuesday’s Play-in clash like one from the NCAA Tournament. “Obviously, it’s the NCAA tournament, you have to get out of the first weekend here and win the first two to get to the first round, but we have a shot, so we’re excited about that,” he said.

The Warriors expect CP3 to become a leader with experience during their upcoming Play-in action

Coach Kerr is well aware that his team possesses a lot of players with postseason experience, and he expects this will make the difference against a less mature Sacramento squad. Also, he doesn’t fear the Kings’ homecourt advantage as Golden State have a very strong road record this campaign.

“We should be a good road team,” he said after dispatching the Jazz on Sunday and closing regular season on a strong note. “We’ve got a lot of guys who have won championships – and veteran players like Chris, who are unfazed by the road.”

As Chris Paul just ended his 19th NBA season, he’s participated in 149 playoff contests throughout his career, wearing five different jerseys, although he’s never earned the league title.

Teammate Draymond Green understands this will be a tight contest against Sacramento. “Us knowing them helps, but on the flip side they know us as well and that hurts,” he said. “Coaches are going to put a game plan together. Their coaches will put a great game plan together. Our coaches will put a great game plan together. But then you’ve got to go out there and play.”

The Celtics ended their outstanding regular season with a 64-18 record and leading the NBA as they head into the Playoffs. However, one of the most impressive qualities came this Sunday, when they decided to rest their entire starting lineup and proved to have roster depth as they beat the Wizards 132-122. 

Payton Pritchard led the charge this weekend and scored a career-high 38 points, alongside his 12 assists and 9 rebounds. His teammates Svi Mykhailiuk and Sam Houser contributed with 26 and 16 points respectively.

This was almost a dejavú from last year’s final regular-season contest, back when the point guard produced a triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. That performance earned him a place next to Larry Bird and John Havlicek as the only Boston athletes with at least 30 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in a single match.

Shout-out to Payton Pritchard ☘️

Career-high 38 points on 15-21 shooting to go with 12 assists and nine rebounds. The only Celtics player this season to play in all 82 games. pic.twitter.com/5fy7yxPKxV

— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) April 15, 2024

The 26-year-old was close to accomplishing this feat once again, as he picked up his ninth rebounds with only 5 minutes left in the match. “If it came, I’ll take it. But I got one last year,” Payton shared. “It wasn’t like I had pressure to get my first triple-double. I’m a pretty good rebounder. So if I get the minutes, I think I’ll be able to get another triple-double.”

The Celtics have now completed their 15th campaign in franchise history with 60 wins or more, yet haven’t conquered the championship since 2008. Despite their impressive season last year, the club is still hurting the fact that they lost Game 7 at home against the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals last spring.

“The most important thing getting into a situation is having no expectations,” coach Joe Mazzulla said about the upcoming NBA Playoffs. “If you study teams that have even been fortunate enough, and if we’re fortunate enough to get to a Finals, if not win it, the road there is always forgotten by the result of winning.”

On the other side, the Washington squad just finished their third-consecutive campaign and now 5th in the last six years without qualifying for the postseason. In their final game, which meant their sixth-straight loss, Eugene Omoruyi also posted a career-best 26 points, alongside Jared Butler’s 22.

“I think we developed a lot of resilience and we developed a competitive atmosphere, and we learned about the process; what it takes to be a really good team,” said Brian Keefe, Wizards interim coach. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but I think we started laying the foundation for that.”

NBA experts explain why the Boston squad possess more roster depth this season than the year before

Even though Pritchard participated in all 82 regular season matches this year, he wasn’t a usual player in the starting lineup. However, when given the chance, he proved he could shine as bright as any other Boston star.

Just last night, he hit 14 points in the final 2:19 of the starting half, and dropped all four of his attempts from beyond the arc to power his team into a 69-59 lead.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps is convinced that besides Payton, coach Mazzulla has other hidden gems up his sleeve. “The world will get to know Sam Hauser,” he said when giving his playoff predictions. “Much has been made of Boston’s lack of depth this season, but that’s in part because Hauser, one of the league’s best 3-point shooters, has been completely overlooked.

“The 26-year-old shot over 43% from 3-point range on more than five attempts per game this season as coach Joe Mazzulla’s preferred seventh man after the five starters and top reserve Al Horford. If the Celtics have the kind of playoff run they are expecting, Hauser will play a big part in it and likely will have several big shooting performances.”

Joel Embiid‘s return from injury hasn’t gone as expected, as he’s been on-and-off the courts ever since he recovered. Even though Philadelphia are the hottest team in the league right now, as they’ve won their last eight games in a row, the team wasn’t able to qualify directly to the NBA Playoffs and will now have to fight off the Heat for a postseason berth.

While both squads prepare for their Play-in clash on Wednesday night in Philly, everyone is expecting the reigning MVP to be back in business. The Sixers big man first returned from a left lateral meniscus injury on April 2, but missed his team’s win on Sunday against the Nets.

The past Friday against the Magic, he limped off the court after a driving layup. He then returned for the second half with no issues, but eventually the coaches realised he should rest for the regular-season finale.

Joel Embiid 2023-2024 season:

34.7 PPG (1st, career-high)
11.0 RPG
5.6 APG (career-high)
1.7 BPG
1.2 SPG (career-high)
53% FG
39% 3PT (career-high)
88% FT (career-high)
31-8 record (65 win pace)
+267

More points than minutes played. Reigning MVP got even better. pic.twitter.com/1hR4ojxovF

— Aidan Doc🧸 (@AidanDoc_) April 14, 2024

With the Miami matchup coming up, coach Nick Nurse assured he should be back and ready for action on Wednesday. “Listen, he did everything at practice yesterday,” he said. “We just decided, out of caution, to hold him. He’ll be ready to go.”

However, he couldn’t say the same thing for De’Anthony Melton. “I’ve always had concern with him,” the tactician shared. “I think it’s a tough deal. It’s kind of the second time we’ve gone through holding him out, trying to treat him, getting him to a place where he thinks he can play. He played a couple games, then he went out again for a long stretch. We bring him back, he plays one game, and then he’s out again. I just think it’s very difficult.

“I think we’re in the same situation. They’re going to continue to treat him, try to get him better. We’re hoping for a long run here, so there’s still always time as this goes to get him back and have him be a factor in this thing. But it is concerning.”

Nevertheless, Nurse wasn’t able to guarantee Melton’s return. “I don’t want to say either way,” the coach insisted, “but I would imagine two things: 1. He has probably a bit of a journey to get there for Wednesday. Some things have got to go well. And 2. He hasn’t played much. So it’s not time to be working guys back into the fold, right? But as a series goes on — if we’re fortunate enough to get into one — and as time goes on, you never know.”

Coach Nurse doesn’t believe KJ Martin and Robert Covington will recover from injury during their playoff run

Other than Embiid and Melton, the 76ers camp has other players in recovery. However, coach Nick Nurse isn’t optimistic about their return, as Robert Covington’s left knee bone bruise and KJ Martin’s left great toe contusion aren’t expected to be healthy in the coming months.

When asked about their chances of returning during the playoffs, their coach was clear. “No,” said the Sixers tactician. “I don’t think so. He just hasn’t made enough progress. We did get him on the court a couple times last week. He just hasn’t made enough progress in being able to move well enough without pain.”

Even if Embiid doesn’t make his way back to compete in the Play-in, Tyrese Maxey has been leading the pack in his absence. The young star posted an impressive display during their only matchup against the Heat without the reigning MVP, as he dropped 37 points and handed out 11 assists on April 4.

“We were kind of in control of our own destiny,” Maxey shared. “We had to win games before. That’s kind of the position that we put ourselves in. That’s OK. I keep saying that for us, our main goal was to be stepping in the right direction come playoff time. I think we’re doing that.”