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The NBA playoffs are lower than a month away and each conferences function seeding races which can be positive to return all the way down to the wire. A number of high groups are lacking key gamers who may return in time for the playoffs and assist their groups’ postseason hopes.
The No. 5 Chicago Bulls and No. 6 Cleveland Cavaliers are separated by one sport and lacking Lonzo Ball and Jarrett Allen, respectively. The Cavs are only one sport forward of the Toronto Raptors and hoping to keep away from the play-in match.
The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks are No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10 within the East, respectively, coming into Thursday’s video games, all separated by one sport and every lacking key gamers. Will Ben Simmons make his Nets debut this season? Can Gordon Hayward return in time and assist LaMelo Ball make a playoff run?
Within the West, the struggling Golden State Warriors lastly received Draymond Green again from a two-month absence, solely to lose Stephen Curry. The Warriors are struggling to carry off the Utah Jazz, who’re simply three video games out of the No. Three seed. The Denver Nuggets are only a sport and a half above the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 6 seed, however may get some much-needed assist for Nikola Jokic within the coming weeks.
The Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are locked in a race for home-court benefit in a possible play-in sport, with each groups awaiting the returns of their stars. Can Anthony Davis assist LeBron James save the Lakers’ season? Will Zion Williamson lastly make his season debut?
This is the newest on the place injured gamers stand over the past week of March.
Out since March 13 with a plantar fascia tear in his proper foot and a proper finger sprain
The Hawks introduced on March 17 that Collins can be reevaluated in 10-14 days following a nonsurgical process on his foot. Collins sat out seven video games whereas nursing the foot damage earlier than returning to the group on March 4. He performed 4 video games however clearly wasn’t himself, averaging simply 9.Three factors on 35.9% taking pictures — down from his season averages of 16.2 factors and 52.6%. Danilo Gallinari has crammed in admirably as a starter with Collins out of the lineup, however Atlanta may use Collins’ scoring punch because it fights for positioning within the Japanese Convention play-in race. — Andrew Lopez
Has not performed since June 20
Simmons has not performed this season after requesting a commerce out of Philadelphia final summer time. He was dealt to the Nets previous to final month’s commerce deadline, however nonetheless hasn’t been cleared to observe as he continues to cope with a herniated disc in his back. It stays to be seen if Simmons will play this season. Nets coach Steve Nash stays optimistic, however Simmons hasn’t been in a position to do something on the ground in weeks. The Nets have performed a few of their greatest basketball of the season not too long ago, successful six of their previous seven video games behind the facility of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Nets gamers and coaches proceed to say that Simmons is in good spirits. The Nets’ postseason hopes would profit from Simmons’ perimeter protection and the best way he can push the ball offensively, however there’s nonetheless no time set for his return. — Nick Friedell
Out since Feb. 7 with a sprained left ankle
Hayward spoke to the media final week for the primary time since February and stated that the plan was to progress to contact this week and “see the way it responds and sort of take it from there.” Charlotte is 26-22 when Hayward performs this season and 11-14 when he would not. For a younger, energetic group, Hayward’s steadiness, exact taking pictures — he is hitting 39% of his 3s — and talent to create alongside Ball give Charlotte an enormous increase. If he can return earlier than the play-in match, he’ll make the Hornets a far harder group to remove. — Tim Bontemps
Out since Jan. 14 with a left knee damage
Ball can be reevaluated on March 31 after the Bulls “pulled back” the rehab course of on his knee earlier this week as a result of he wasn’t responding correctly to the restoration program following arthroscopic knee surgical procedure in January. Ball can be shut down from operating till at the very least the tip of the month, which places a return through the common season in jeopardy even when he begins to indicate enchancment by then. With out Ball, the Bulls have moved Alex Caruso into the beginning lineup and can rely on second-round pick Ayo Dosunmu off the bench to proceed to choose up the slack defensively. — Jamal Collier
Out since March 6 with a fractured left center finger
Allen selected to not get surgical procedure on his injured finger and the hope is that he’ll be capable of return to the court docket for the Cavaliers earlier than the tip of the common season. Allen has damaged out in an enormous manner this season, forming one of many league’s greatest inside defensive tandems alongside rookie Evan Mobley. He is helped the Cavaliers flip into one of many league’s greatest tales this yr with their shocking bid for a playoff spot. Whether or not Cleveland is ready to stay within the high six within the East and keep away from the play-in match may very effectively come down as to if Allen is ready to return earlier than the playoffs. — Bontemps
Out since April 12 with a torn left ACL
Murray has been working his manner again and there’s a probability he might be despatched all the way down to the G League for a block of practices, however a return this season is up within the air. The Nuggets are going to take issues very gradual with their star guard, who can be a yr faraway from tearing his ACL when the play-in match begins. Nuggets coach Michael Malone advised reporters on Sunday that Murray is “not shut” to taking part in in a sport. Denver has 9 video games remaining within the common season and the Nuggets’ method has usually been to play issues secure with the well being of their high gamers and prospects. Jokic has carried the Nuggets, who path the Dallas Mavericks by two video games for the fifth spot within the West, however the Timberwolves are making a push for the sixth seed. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Out since Nov. 6 with a decrease again damage
Porter underwent lumbar backbone surgical procedure on Dec. 1 and his agent, Mark Bartlestein, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in late February that Porter was progressing towards a attainable return in March. Jokic has been sensational all season taking part in at an MVP degree once more, however Porter can be an enormous increase for the Nuggets along with his 3-point taking pictures and rebounding. Denver goes to play it secure with their promising younger ahead, who has undergone three again procedures since November 2017, his freshman yr at Missouri. The Nuggets might be a title contender subsequent season with a wholesome trio of Jokic, Murray and Porter, so Denver will proceed with warning. — Youngmisuk
Out since March 16 with a left foot pressure
The Warriors will be without Curry for at the very least one other week and a half as he recovers from a sprained ligament in his left foot. They’ve received only one sport since his damage. The Memphis Grizzlies handed the Warriors for the No. 2 seed in Inexperienced’s two-month absence and now the Utah Jazz are closing in with simply three video games to separate them. Third-year guard Jordan Poole, who began instead of Klay Thompson forward of his return, finds himself within the beginning lineup once more with Curry out. Poole has put up 29, 28, 26 and 30 factors up to now 4 video games, respectively, and has scored at the very least 20 factors per sport since March 3. Curry, Thompson and Inexperienced have performed simply 11 minutes collectively this season and are operating out of time to discover a rhythm collectively earlier than the playoffs. — Kendra Andrews
Out since June 14 with a torn proper ACL
Leonard suffered the damage within the second spherical of the 2021 playoffs towards the Jazz and has not performed since. He had surgical procedure on July 13, however the Clippers nonetheless should not have a timetable for his return. The Clippers are entrenched within the eighth spot within the West and on their approach to the play-in match. By all accounts, Leonard has been working exhausting and appears to be in good condition, however the Clippers can be additional cautious with their franchise star. In the event that they make it out of the play-in match, nonetheless, and Paul George and Norman Powell additionally return, Leonard would simply want clearance from the medical workers to play once more. And that door has been left open. — Youngmisuk
Out since Dec. 22 with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow
George opted to let his elbow heal with relaxation as a substitute of present process surgical procedure to go away the door open for a return, however no timetable has been set. It may have been a demise sentence for the Clippers’ season when the group introduced on Christmas Day that George can be out indefinitely with Leonard additionally out, however Tyronn Lue and the Clippers are headed for the play-in match, at the moment eighth within the West. Nonetheless, the Clippers may desperately use George’s offense. The star guard has made progress: George has been seen taking pictures along with his proper hand from brief to midrange and was cleared for minimal contact in 4-on-4 towards the Clippers coaches. There are solely three weeks left earlier than the play-in match and the Clippers can be cautious with George, however seeing him again on the court docket is a constructive signal. — Youngmisuk
Out since Feb. 16 with a proper mid-foot sprain
If every thing continues to progress effectively in Davis’ rehab, the All-Star huge man might be suiting up for video games by the primary week of April, on the earliest, sources advised ESPN. The Lakers have gone 18-7 up to now two postseasons when Davis and James have been within the lineup and in a position to end the sport. That is the stat that retains L.A.’s locker room believing, regardless of how troublesome this season has been. The Lakers struggled to regulate with out him at first, going 2-9 out of the All-Star break, however began to discover a combine that works by giving extra time to position gamers like Stanley Johnson, Austin Reaves and Wenyen Gabriel to copy the defensive-minded presence that Davis supplies, whereas letting James proceed to shoulder the offensive burden. If Davis can get again, there will not be a lot time to ramp issues up earlier than the play-in match, but when his quick return to high-level play coming off an MCL sprain in January is any indicator, a ramp up won’t be wanted. — Dave McMenamin
Out since March Eight with a strained right hamstring
Ingram remains to be listed as out, however the group is hopeful he can return on the upcoming three-game homestand. The Pelicans are 5-17 when Ingram sits this season, however three of these wins have come up to now 5 video games because the group has been in a position to lean on CJ McCollum. New Orleans has been a .500 group with Ingram this season (25-25) and in addition a .500 mark (5-5) with McCollum and Ingram collectively. Because the Pelicans battle the Lakers for the No. 9 spot and residential court docket for a play-in sport, a wholesome Ingram will give New Orleans an added increase. — Lopez
Out since Jan. 5 with a proper knee damage
Nance had surgery on Feb. 11 after being traded within the cope with the Portland Trail Blazers that additionally despatched McCollum to New Orleans. He has but to play for the Pelicans this season, however he has been upgraded to possible and the group expects him to make his debut Thursday. Nance has been taking pictures and leaping for a few weeks as he prepares to make his Pelicans debut. Nance may slot in at energy ahead subsequent to Jonas Valanciunas or Willy Hernangomez, or play alongside Jaxson Hayes, who the Pelicans have given beginning energy ahead minutes to. It is not out of the query to play Nance on the small ahead spot with Hayes and Valanciunas, both. He’ll give the Pelicans one other veteran presence as they make their last push. — Lopez
Has not performed all season with a fractured proper foot
There was no timetable given for a return to play, if Williamson returns in any respect this season after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his proper foot in offseason exercises. Williamson has had setbacks all year long and his return has been continuously delayed. He returned to New Orleans earlier this month after spending almost two months rehabbing in Portland. He was seen Wednesday taking part in one-on-one with participant growth coach Corey Brewer, elevating on his bounce shot, going off the dribble and dunking a number of occasions. The Pelicans are a sport behind the No. 9 Lakers, combating for dwelling court docket in a possible play-in matchup. — Lopez
Out since Feb. 16 with a fractured right thumb
Paul fractured his thumb within the last sport earlier than the All-Star break, an damage that was anticipated to sideline him for six to eight weeks. He may beat that timetable in making his return. He is been going via taking pictures drills for the previous two weeks and taking different steps towards getting again in sport motion. The Suns, in the meantime, have not simply survived with out Paul. Phoenix has thrived because the All-Star break, going 11-Four in that span and stopping any group from remotely threatening the Suns within the battle for the NBA’s greatest report. Paul’s absence might need even had a silver lining. The 36-year-old perennial All-Star level guard ought to have recent legs for the playoffs, which the Suns will enter as title favorites. — Tim MacMahon
Picture credit: John Bazemore/AP Picture; Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Photographs; Brian Westerholt/USA TODAY Sports activities; Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports activities; Carlos Osorio/AP Picture; Ashley Landis/AP Picture; Jeff Chiu/AP Picture; Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports activities; Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports activities; Chuck Cook dinner/USA TODAY Sports activities; Chris Coduto/Getty Photographs
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