SALT LAKE CITY — With the NBA season finally resuming Thursday after a four-and-a-half-month layoff, some teams are pretty well set in their playoff positions, while others can make significant moves over the next two weeks to improve their standing.
Despite the number of games each team has played, everybody is playing eight games and the top teams will likely remain the same in each conference with the Lakers and Bucks way ahead. After that there could be several changes as a team like the Jazz has the chance to move up to second or third, but could also fall to fifth or sixth.
Here is a look at all 22 teams still playing and how their seasons are shaping up during the first two weeks of August.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Los Angeles Lakers
Current record/standing: 49-14 (1st in Western Conference)
First game: Thursday 7 p.m. MT, LA Clippers (TNT)
Key players: LeBron James, Anthony Davis
Changes since March: The Lakers will be without Avery Bradley, who elected not to join the bubble, and Rajon Rondo, who broke a bone in his hand and is out until the middle of the playoffs. But they’ve added Markieff Morris, J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters. Also, two players tested positive for the virus back in March, but names were not released
Toughest game: Aug. 1, Toronto
Easiest game: Aug. 13, Sacramento
Playoff picture: The Lakers will get the No. 1 seed, barring a total collapse, but they do have a challenging schedule with seven of their eight games against current playoff teams.
Los Angeles Clippers
Current record/standing: 44-20 (2nd in Western Conference)
First game: Thursday, 7 p.m. MT, L.A. Lakers (TNT)
Key players: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard
Changes since March: Landry Shamet and Ivica Zubac both had coronavirus, but returned earlier this week. Lou Williams is quarantined until Aug. 3 after being exposed to the virus. Also, Marcus Morris will leave upon the birth of his child. Reggie Jackson and Joakim Noah have also joined the team.
Toughest game: Thursday, L.A. Lakers
Easiest game: Aug. 4, Phoenix
Playoff picture: The Clippers are one of the favorites to win the whole thing and should hang on to the No. 2 spot with a schedule that includes four nonplayoff teams. They had one of the deepest teams in the league before the four-month break, but their depth has been challenged lately.
Denver Nuggets
Current record/standing: 43-22 (3rd Western Conference)
First game: Saturday, 11 a.m., Miami (ESPN)
Key players: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray
Changes since March: Jokic was diagnosed with the virus in June, but is OK now. Monte Morris is under quarantine. Gary Harris has had a hip issue.
Toughest game: Aug. 10, Los Angeles Lakers
Easiest game: Aug. 5, San Antonio
Playoff picture: The Nuggets are a game and a half up on Utah and the Aug. 8 game against the Jazz could determine final playoff positions for the two. Denver has a pretty tough slate and must play the Lakers, Clippers and Raptors after the Jazz.
Utah Jazz
Current record/standing: 41-23 (4th Western Conference)
First game: Thursday, 4:30 p.m. MT, New Orleans
Key players: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert
Changes since March: Bojan Bogdanovic has undergone surgery on an injured wrist and is out for the season. Mike Conley may have to leave early if his wife gives birth in late August.
Toughest game: Aug. 3, L.A. Lakers
Easiest game: Aug. 7, San Antonio
Playoff picture: The Jazz have three games against teams out of the playoffs right now (New Orleans, San Antonio twice) and one against eighth-place Memphis. They must win those four and at least one against the playoff teams to stay in the fourth spot, although it’s not that vital since there’s no homecourt advantage in Orlando.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Current record/standing: 40-24 (5th Western Conference)
First game: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Utah (ESPN)
Key players: Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Changes since March: Backup point guard Dennis Schroder is waiting for his second child to be born in the next two weeks and could miss playoff games because of return quarantine. Paul, Terrance Ferguson and Andre Roberson have all missed time in scrimmages, but are expected to play this week.
Toughest game: L.A. Lakers Aug. 5
Easiest game: Phoenix, Aug. 10
Playoff picture: With four games against upper-echelon teams (Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Heat), the Thunder must win their other four games, including a big game against the Jazz, and at least one of the others to have a chance to move up in the standings. OKC owns the tiebreak against the Rockets and the Jazz, if it beats them this weekend.
Houston Rockets
Current record/standing: 40-24 (6th Western Conference)
First game: Friday, 7 p.m., Dallas (ESPN)
Changes since March: Russell Westbrook tested positive for the virus, but never got too sick and should be 100%. Former Jazzman Thabo Sefolosha decided not to participate for the remainder of season. Just Tuesday, Eric Gordon suffered an ankle injury that could keep him out for a weeks or two.
Key players: James Harden, Russell Westbrook
Toughest game: Lakers, Aug. 6
Easiest game: Sacramento, Aug. 9
Playoff picture: The Rockets are everybody’s darkhorse to go far because they underachieved early in the season. They play the Lakers and the Bucks, but could win all the rest of their games and end up moving to the fourth or fifth spot in the Western Conference.
Dallas Mavericks
Current record/standing: 40-27 (7th in Western Conference)
First game: Friday 7 p.m. Houston (ESPN)
Key players: Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis
Changes since March: Willie Cauley-Stein opted to sit out rest of season in expectation of newborn child. Dwight Powell is out with Achilles injury.
Toughest game: Aug. 8, Milwaukee
Easiest games: Aug. 2 and 13, Phoenix
Playoff picture: Even with an easier schedule than those just above them, the Mavericks will have a hard time improving their playoff position, being three games behind Houston in the loss column.
Memphis Grizzlies
Current record/standing: 32-33 (8th Western Conference)
First game: Friday, 2 p.m. Portland (NBA-TV)
Key players: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson
Changes since March: Justise Winslow is out after suffering hip injury last week.
Toughest game: Aug. 13, Milwaukee,
Easiest game: Aug. 2, San Antonio
Playoff picture: Wins in the first three games should put the Grizzlies in solid shape to hold the eight spot as they play three teams chasing them, Portland, San Antonio and New Orleans. After that it gets tough with consecutive games against the Jazz, OKC, Toronto, Boston and Milwaukee.
Portland Trail Blazers
Current record/standing: 29-37 (9th Western Conference)
First game: Friday 2 p.m., Portland (NBA-TV)
Key players: Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum
Changes since March: Trevor Ariza and Caleb Swanigan have both opted out of playing. The long layoff has allowed Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins to get healthy and return to the lineup, but Rodney Hood is still out with Achilles injury.
Toughest game: Aug. 8, Clippers
Easiest game: Aug. 13, Brooklyn
Playoff picture: The Blazers have an easier schedule than Memphis, but even if they can’t make up the three-and-a-half game deficit, they can grab the No. 9 spot and have a chance in a play-in series.
New Orleans Pelicans
Current record/standing: 28-36 (T-10th Western Conference)
First game: Thursday, 4:30 p.m., Utah (TNT)
Key players: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram
Changes since March: Darius Miller will not play because of Achilles injury.
Toughest game: Aug. 1, LA Clippers
Easiest game: Aug. 7, Washington
Playoff picture: After a 7-23 start, the Pelicans have gone 21-13 since and are a better team with Williamson in the lineup. A win over the Jazz in the opener would be huge as the Pelicans have perhaps the easiest schedule of any team still playing with only one other game against a team with a winning record.
Sacramento Kings
Current record/standing: 28-36 (T-10 Western Conference)
First game: Friday 6 p.m. San Antonio
Key players: De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield
Changes since March: Marvin Bagley suffered a season-ending foot injury, Fox was out a week with a sprained ankle and Richaun Holmes earned a 10-day quarantine for inadvertently violating the perimeter of the “bubble.”
Toughest game: Aug. 13, L.A. Lakers
Easiest game: Aug. 7, Brooklyn
Playoff picture: Two of the Kings’ games are against New Orleans and they also get Brooklyn, Orlando and San Antonio, so they have an outside chance to make the playoffs, but will likely need to go at least 6-2 the rest of the way to make their first playoffs since 2006.
San Antonio Spurs
Current record/standing: 27-36 (12th Western Conference)
First game: Friday 6 p.m. Sacramento
Key players: DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay
Changes since March: LaMarcus Aldridge (shoulder) and Trey Lyles (appendicitis) are both out for the season.
Toughest game: Aug. 7, Denver
Easiest game: Friday, Sacramento
Playoff picture: The Spurs don’t have to play any of the NBA’s top four teams, but have challenges with two games against the Jazz, as well as contests with Denver, Houston and Philadelphia. Their 22-year playoff streak is in serious jeopardy.
Phoenix Suns
Current record/standing: 26-39 (13th Western Conference)
First game: Friday 2 p.m., Washington
Key players: Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton
Changes since March: Aron Baynes has been cleared from the coronavirus and arrived in Orlando earlier in the week. Kelly Oubre hasn’t played yet in Orlando because of a knee injury, while Dario Saric has been slowed by an ankle injury.
Toughest game: Aug. 4, L.A. Clippers
Easiest game: Friday, Washington
Playoff picture: Even if the Suns win every game, they probably won’t make the playoffs and they aren’t likely to win even half, with seven of their eight games against teams with winning records.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Milwaukee Bucks
Current record/standing: 53-12 (1st Eastern Conference)
First game: Friday 4:30 p.m., Boston (ESPN)
Changes since March: Pat Connaugton has been ill, but is expected to join the team this week. Marvin Williams is hobbled with groin injury.
Key players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton
Toughest game: Aug. 10, Toronto
Easiest game: Aug. 11, Washington
Playoff picture: The Bucks will hold onto the No. 1 seed and then it will be a matter of holding off the Raptors and Celtics in the Eastern Conference. If they survive the East it will be one of the two L.A. teams standing in the way of the Bucks’ first NBA title since 1971.
Toronto Raptors
Current record/standing: 46-18 (2nd Eastern Conference)
First game: Saturday 6:30 p.m., L.A. Lakers (ESPN)
Key players: Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam
Changes since March: Backup guard Patrick McCaw is day-to-day with undisclosed injury.
Toughest game: Saturday, L.A. Lakers
Easiest game: Aug. 9, Memphis
Playoff picture: The defending world champions have one of the tougher schedules with games against six winning teams. But they’re also one of the healthiest teams, so they should make another run in the playoffs.
Boston Celtics
Current record/standing: 43-21 (3rd Eastern Conference)
First game: Friday 4:30 p.m., Milwaukee ESPN
Key players: Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker
Changes since March: The Celtics have been resting top players during scrimmages, but have been one of healthiest teams.
Toughest game: Friday, Milwaukee
Easiest game: Memphis Aug. 11
Playoff picture: With one of the easiest remaining schedules, the Celtics have a chance to catch Toronto, but regardless, should advance to a second-round matchup with the Raptors as they’ll likely stay ahead of Miami.
Miami Heat
Current record/standing: 41-24 (4th Eastern Conference)
First game: Saturday, 11 a.m., Denver (ESPN)
Key players: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo
Changes since March 11: Three players, presumed to be Derrick Jones Jr., Kendrick Nunn and Adebayo, tested positive in early July, but all are fine now.
Toughest game: Aug. 6, Milwaukee
Easiest game: Aug. 8, Phoenix
Playoff picture: The Heat were one of the surprise teams in the league until March. With a tough remaining schedule, including two games against the Pacers, they want to stay in the 4-5 slot and avoid a first-round matchup against Boston or Toronto.
Indiana Pacers
Current record/standing: 39-26 (T-5th Eastern Conference)
First game: Saturday 5 p.m., Philadelphia
Key players: T.J. Warren, Malcolm Brogdon
Changes: Victor Oladipo is still deciding whether he’ll compete in Orlando and Domantas Sabonis is coming back from a foot injury.
Toughest game: Aug. 6, L.A. Lakers
Easiest game: Aug. 3, Washington
Playoff picture: The last four games, two games against the Heat, along with the Lakers and Houston will likely push the Pacers behind the Sixers.
Philadephia 76ers
Current record/standing: 39-26 (T-5th Eastern Conference)
First game: Saturday 5 p.m. Indiana
Key players: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons
Changes since March: Simmons has been shifted to power forward from the guard line in place of Al Horford. Glenn Robinson III and ex-Jazzman Raul Neto are both “day-to-day” after suffering recent injuries.
Toughest game: Aug. 12, Toronto
Easiest game: Aug. 5, Washington
Playoff picture: The Sixers have one of the easier schedules with five games against losing teams and they should move up to No. 4 or 5 spot in the East.
Brooklyn Nets
Current record/standing: 30-34 (7th Eastern Conference)
First game: Friday, 12:30 p.m.
Key players: Joe Harris, Caris LeVert
Changes since March: Leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie is not with the team nor is Wilson Chandler. DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince both tested positive and are out for the year. Jamal Crawford’s status is day-to-day.
Toughest game: Aug. 4, Milwaukee
Easiest game: Aug. 2, Washington
Playoff picture: The Nets are the most decimated team in the league and will basically look like a G League team with so many players missing in Orlando. Their chances of advancing in the playoffs are slim, although they’ll likely be in the play-in game against Washington.
Orlando Magic
Current record/standing: 30-35 (8th Eastern Conference)
Key players: Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier
First game: Friday, 12:30 p.m. Brooklyn
Changes since March: Al-Farouq Aminu is out with a knee injury. Gordon has been held out because of groin soreness.
Toughest game: Aug. 5, Toronto
Easiest game: Aug. 2, Sacramento
Playoff picture: The Magic should move up to the No. 7 spot if they can handle the depleted Nets in two games and avoid the play-in series. They’re the only home team in the bubble, but it won’t make any difference with no fans in the stands.
Washington Wizards
Current record/standing: 24-40 (9th Eastern Conference)
Key players: Rui Hachimura, Thomas Bryant
First game: Friday, 2 p.m., Phoenix
Changes since March: Leading scorer Bradley Beal is not in Orlando because of a right shoulder injury and second-leading scorer Davis Bertans opted not to come to Orlando because he’s a free agent and wants to avoid injury.
Toughest game: Aug. 11, Milwaukee
Easiest game: Friday, Phoenix
Playoff picture: The good news is that the Wizards have a chance to make the playoffs, despite being 5½ games behind Orlando for the No. 8 spot because of the play-in series between the 8th- and 9th-place teams, where they’ll have to win two games.