NBA Playoff Push Shakes Up Starting Lineups Tonight
NBA Playoff Push Shakes Up Starting Lineups Tonight...
With just days remaining in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, teams are making last-minute adjustments to their starting lineups as they jockey for playoff positioning. Tonight's slate features several critical matchups that could determine seeding in both conferences, driving intense fan interest in roster decisions.
The Denver Nuggets will start newly acquired guard Anfernee Simons alongside Jamal Murray against the Lakers, while the Knicks are benching Julius Randle for defensive specialist Mitchell Robinson against Miami. These moves come as teams balance rest, injuries, and strategic matchups during the grueling final stretch.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers announced Donovan Mitchell will sit tonight against Orlando, with Caris LeVert moving into the starting five. The decision comes after Mitchell logged 42 minutes in Sunday's overtime win against Philadelphia.
Western Conference leader Oklahoma City is making no changes to its starting lineup despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing through a minor knee issue. The Thunder need one more win to clinch the top seed over Minnesota.
Tonight's games carry extra weight with seven teams still fighting for the final three playoff spots. The NBA's official injury report shows 23 players listed as questionable or out across the league, forcing coaches to get creative with rotations.
Fans are tracking these developments closely through team social media accounts and beat reporters. The Warriors' decision to start Moses Moody over Andrew Wiggins against Portland has already sparked debate on sports talk shows.
Tip-off times begin at 7:30 PM ET with the Celtics hosting Brooklyn in a game that could determine whether Boston secures home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. All 30 teams will have played 80 games after tonight's action.
League sources indicate more lineup changes could come Wednesday as teams prepare for back-to-back games. The final regular season games occur Sunday before the play-in tournament begins April 16.
