NBA Lottery Race: Blazers Play as Pacers, Wizards, Magic Take Day Off

The Portland Trail Blazers are one of four teams tightly grouped near the bottom of the NBA standings, fighting for position in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery. The four teams include the Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards, all of which are currently separated by a game and a half.

The team that finishes the season with the lowest win total out of that group will own the league’s fifth-worst record in May’s drawing, giving about a 10 percent chance at the first pick and Victor Wembanyama.

All four franchises have now been eliminated from Play-In contention.

Of the four, just the Blazers will visit the Los Angeles Clippers today as part of a three-game slate. The Pacers, Wizards and Magic have the day off before tomorrow’s season finale.

State of the standings:

• Seventh worst record - the Wizards sit 35-46 with their last game against the Houston Rockets.
• Tied for sixth-worst record - the Pacers own a 34-47 record with a final game against the New York Knicks.
• Tied for sixth-worst record - the Magic are 34-47 with games against the Miami Heat.
• Fifth-worst record - the Blazers are 33-47 with games against the Clippers and Golden State Warriors.