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Projecting the winners of the biggest NBA playoff races

Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images

Which teams can we expect to prevail in the key races remaining for NBA playoff positioning?

The post-All-Star portion of the 2018-19 season tips off with seven games Thursday night, although the league is already well past the midway point. Teams have less than one-third of the schedule remaining to make up ground and put themselves in position to succeed in the postseason.

With the help of statistical projections, let's take a look at who has the edge in the biggest races, including who gets home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs and whether the Los Angeles Lakers and star LeBron James can reach the postseason at all.