The NBA standings once again shifted at the top as the New York Knicks remain hot entering the final month of the regular season. With the playoffs looming, teams are attempting to solidify their spots in their conference as they look to have some time to prepare for the 2013 Playoffs beginning at the end of April. Check out yesterday's results as the Eastern Conference felt some movement at the top of the standings.
The Knicks are the hottest team in basketball right now. Well, it depends how you interpret "hottest." Since the Miami Heat lost on Wednesday, the longest streak in the NBA is currently held by the Knicks as they have won six straight games. The Heat, however, are still atop of the Eastern Conference, while the Knicks victory on Wednesday over the Memphis Grizzlies bumped them back to the two-seed.
For the Heat, they remain the hottest team over the last 10 games as they're 9-1. The Knicks are 6-4, but bouncing back at the proper time and maintaining a 2.5 game lead over the 4th place Brooklyn Nets. The Indiana Pacers are .004 percentage points behind the Knicks in the East and currently in possession of third place. The Heat remain the favorite in the East, so little has changed after losing 101-97 to the Bulls.
Over in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers' race for the final spot in the playoffs is what's stealing the headlines. With the Denver Nuggets no longer streaking having lost two consecutive games, the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and Lakers are making the 8th seed the most intriguing race in the NBA.
All three teams are separated by 1.5 games. The Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-117 on Wednesday, remaining in first place, while the Jazz also won, 103-88, over the Phoenix Suns. The Mavs were inactive on Wednesday night, so they fell behind half a game.
The Nuggets dropped their meeting to the San Antonio Spurs 100-99 and also fell a spot in the division allowing the Los Angeles Clippers to take over third place.
Check out the standings and the teams in the playoff race as of Thursday morning. (Credit: NBA.com)
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