There are currently two win streaks of 15 or more games going on in the NBA right now, which is just crazy to think about this late in the season. The pressure is on for Playoff positioning and both the Heat and the Nuggets have lots and lots to play for. These win streaks have served two very different purposes.
Miami is on a 25-game win streak and goes for number 26 tonight against Charlotte. The Heat will do so without Dwyane Wade who will miss tonight's game with a sore knee. Not good news for Miami if the team wants to continue the second longest win streak in NBA history.
However, the deed has been done for Miami.
The Heat were 29-14 on Feb. 1 when they lost to the Pacers. They held a half game lead over the Knicks for the top spot in the East and home court advantage to the Finals.
Twenty-five games later, Miami has a ton of breathing room. The Heat are 12 games ahead of the Knicks and Pacers for home court throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs and are two games away from clinching that mark. Miami also has a 1.5 game lead on San Antonio for home court throughout the Playoffs.
This may be a minor thing to a team defending a championship, but it is not insignificant. There is still something for the Heat to play for besides going for the record.
As for the Nuggets, they have a franchise-record 15-game win streak going and it has helped them climb to third in the West. When the streak started, Denver was fifth in the conference. The win streak has helped the Nuggets pass the Clippers and the Grizzlies. The Nuggets can say they are challenging the Thunder too, sitting 2.5 games behind them for the second seed.
Denver is 32-3 at home this year and so gaining home court advantage in the Playoffs is a must if the team wants to get out of the first round for the first time since 2009.
That is all down the road. Right now, the work is done for these two teams to reshape the standings to their advantage. And there is only a little season left for everyone else to catch up.
