NBA Notes: Clippers, Norman Powell, Pistons, Magic, playoffs

Clippers

The Clippers are aiming to keep a pretty good thing going, as they’ve benefitted from good health and their fair share of home games. But things are about to toughen up. On paper, anyway.

“After losing six of seven games, the Clippers flipped things and won their next seven of eight — most notably against the East-leading Cavaliers on Tuesday,” wrote ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “But their schedule doesn’t get any easier for the remainder of March. The Clippers face Memphis, Oklahoma City, New York, Orlando and Cleveland again in their next seven games.”

What happens next might be the difference between the play-in tournament or finishing with a top-six seed in the Western Conference.

“It is a stretch that could make or break their chances of getting back to sixth in the standings and staying out of the play-in,” Youngmisuk noted. “Having Norman Powell and Ben Simmons back is a big boost for their push toward the postseason.”

Pistons

For all the talk about this season’s rise, the Pistons can still be a little … well, inconsistent. But that’s OK. This year has been 10 times better than last. 

No matter, they still have to finish strong to avoid the play-in tournament.

“Losing at home to the Wizards on Thursday could be costly as the Pistons battle for playoff positioning,” wrote ESPN’s Kevin Pelton. “Entering Tuesday, Detroit was a game back of the Pacers and Bucks for the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs and two back in the loss column.

“After losing to Oklahoma City on Saturday, the Pistons bounced back Monday to blow out the Pelicans by 46 points, tying the second-largest margin in franchise history. Four Detroit reserves scored in double figures.”

Magic

The Magic are another team that could end up anywhere in the Eastern Conference, as long as that “anywhere” involves the play-in tournament.

“Sunday’s nationally televised win in Cleveland, snapping the Cavaliers’ 16-game win streak, looked like what the Magic hoped it could be,” Pelton wrote. “Orlando locked down Donovan Mitchell in a rematch of last year’s first-round seven-game series, holding him to 9-of-28 shooting, and got a key late 3-pointer from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

“Pending the play-in, the two teams are on track to meet again in the first round, albeit this time as the 1-8 matchup. It’s too late for the Magic to escape the play-in but they can still position themselves to advance by catching the Hawks for seventh.”