Despite a near catastrophic meltdown over the last two months, the Philadelphia 76ers have done just enough – winning the last two games against Indiana and Cleveland – for a comfortable three-game lead for the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference.
A win against New Jersey or loss by Milwaukee tonight would secure the Sixers a playoff berth, and they are just a half-game behind the New York Knicks for the seventh seed.
The Sixers (33-30) look for their third consecutive victory on the road and their first three-game winning streak since March 11 as they visit the Nets, playing their final game at the Prudential Center, in Monday’s best game.
The teams will meet for the third time in April and conclude the four-game season series tonight, with New Jersey having taken two of the first three meetings.
In their latest matchup on April 13, Gerald Green exploded off the bench with 23 points while MarShon Brooks added 22 to help the Nets defeat the Sixers, 95-89.
Jrue Holiday led Philadelphia with 19 points and six assists.
Philadelphia may have an easier time as Deron Williams – missing the last three games due to a right calf injury – is unlikely to play and may be done for the season.
The Nets (22-42) will end their 35-year tenure in New Jersey tonight with a celebration of the franchise. ESPN listed the top 10 greatest Nets players of all time, with the exclusion of Jayson Williams.
The Nets were never supposed to move to New Jersey in the first place, but they did, and the franchise never could separate or market themselves better than its crosstown rival, the New York Knicks, even during the best of times with Jason Kidd and company.
The team will relocate to the Barclays Center for the 2012-2013 season and change its name to the Brooklyn Nets on April 30, with a new logo and color scheme to come on the same day.
And finally, the Nets will have a chance to play in front of a sold-out home crowd.
James Park is a regular contributor to Sheridanhoops.com. You can follow him on twitter @NBATupark.