Around the NBA 1/17: Things Celtics fans should know, including news on Rondo and Ben Simmons

While the Celtics were en route to one of their most exciting wins of the season over the Wizards, there were 14 other NBA teams in action.  Here are 11 things you should know:

2016 DRAFT PICK WATCH

1. The Nets lost to the Hawks last night.  They have the third-worst record in the NBA.  The Celtics own the Nets unconditional first-round draft pick.  As of today, the bottom of the league standings are as follows:

6. Pelicans 13-26
5. Suns 13-28
4. Timberwolves 12-29
3. Nets 11-30
2. Lakers 9-33
1. 76ers 5-37

2. The Celtics (22-19) beat the Wizards.  Their projected list of picks did not change as a result of last night's games: 3, 17, 21, 31, 34, 48, 52, 58.

3. The Mavericks (23-18) were idle last night.  With the Grizzlies win, their lead over the Grizzlies for the fifth seed in the West shrunk to a half-game.  Dallas will convey their first-round pick to the Celtics only if it falls between 8-30.  If Dallas' pick falls between 1-7, the conditional 2016 pick will become a 2017 first-round pick with the same conditions.  This pick would be conveyed if the season ended today as they would be projected to receive the 21st pick in the draft.

ATLANTIC DIVISION WATCH

4. The Celtics beat the Wizards 119-117.
5. The Nets lost to the Hawks 114-86.
6. The 76ers beat the Blazers 114-89.
7. The Knicks lost to the Grizzlies 103-95.

Atlantic Division Standings as of 1/17
Toronto 25-15
Boston 22-19
New York 20-22
Brooklyn 11-30
Philadelphia 5-37

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS WATCH

8. Winners: Celtics, Hawks and Pistons
9. Losers: none
10. Notable Change: Everyone who started the day in the top eight won.  The Celtics remain a half-game behind the seventh-seeded Pistons and sixth-seeded Pacers.

Eastern Conference Standings as of 1/17
1. Cavaliers 28-10
2. Raptors 25-15
3. Bulls 23-16
4. Hawks 23-17
5. Heat 23-17
6. Pacers 22-18
7. Pistons 22-18
8. Celtics 22-19
9. Magic 20-19

FORMER CELTICS

9. Tony Allen played 34 minutes in the Grizzlies win over the Knicks last night.  He finished with 7 points and 9 rebounds.  Jeff Green came off the bench for the second straight game and played well again, finishing with 18 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds.

10. Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce/Doc Rivers did battle again last night, with the Rajon and the Kings ending the undermanned Clippers win streak.  Rondo played 34 minutes and finished with 13 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds.  Pierce played 20 minutes and finished with 7 points and 3 assists.

BEN SIMMONS UPDATE

11. LSU beat Arkansas on a late basket last night to improve to 4-1 in SEC conference play.  The Tigers were once again led by Ben Simmons, who shot 5-13 from the field, 6-10 from the free throw line and finished with 16 points, 18 rebounds and 3 assists.  Has there been a more automatic double-double in college basketball in the one-and-done era?

WHAT'S ON TONIGHT?

Heat @ Thunder
Mavericks @ Spurs
Pacers @ Nuggets
Rockets @ Lakers

Follow Max Sandgrund on Twitter @SotoSpeakz