The 2013 NBA Playoffs are over a week old now, but every day there is a shift in the standings. The Miami Heat are already into the second round along with the San Antonio Spurs, but for the rest of the active teams, things are pretty interesting as some upsets may lie ahead. Here's what the standings look like as of Tuesday morning as all remaining teams have played at least four games in their respective series.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls had a chance to lock up their series and advance further into the playoffs Monday evening, but this wasn't so. The Thunder let a lead at the half slip as Chandler Parsons carried the load scoring 27 points, 11 of which came in the third quarter alone. This series is now 3-1 and the bad news for the Thunder is that they looked really weak without Russell Westbrook, especially in the closing minutes of the game. Suddenly, the Thunder look mortal.
The Bulls never really led in Game 5, so it's hard to say they let a chance escape, but they could have locked up the series on Monday evening with a win. When they were making a late run, the Brooklyn Nets, charged by Gerald Wallace, were able to put the game away in the final two minutes. A seven-point game became a double-digit deficit, which then finished with the Nets up by 19 points. The final score of this game was 110-91 in favor of the Nets. The Bulls take the series back home where they will look to lock things up in Game 6.
As for the Indiana Pacers and the Atlanta Hawks, this series is tied 2-2. The Hawks found a way to win once again and they made it look very easy. The final score was 102-91 and all of a sudden, what looked to be an easy series for the Pacers, is now a matchup many would like to follow.
ON the SCHEDULE
There will be two games tonight and only one can finish with a team advancing. The Denver Nuggets face the Golden State Warriors for Game 5 in a series where the No. 6 ranked Warriors are up 3-1 and just a game away from clinching and advancing to the second round. Tip off is at 8 p.m. ET.
The second and final game of the evening features a series that is tied 2-2. The Los Angeles Clippers look to get back in the win column against the Memphis Grizzlies as the series shifts back to the Staple Center. Game time is at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. The winner of this game takes a dominant 3-2 lead in the series.
Here's what the 2013 NBA Playoff standings look like entering Tuesday morning:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Miami Heat win series 4-0 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
New York Knicks 3-1 Boston Celtics
Indiana Pacers 2-2 Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets 2-3 Chicago Bulls
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Oklahoma City Thunder 3-1 Houston Rockets
San Antonio Spurs win series 4-0 vs. L.A. Lakers
Denver Nuggets 1-3 Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers 2-2 Memphis Grizzlies
