NBA standings, playoff picture: Here’s your one-stop shop for everything you need to know on the NBA playoff race
The NBA playoffs are almost over. With less than three weeks left in the regular season, the postseason is set to begin on April 16 with the play-in tournament. The playoffs will begin on April 20. While we know that most teams are going to qualify for the postseason, there is much to be decided in the final weeks of the regular season. The chance to avoid seeding, home-court advantage and play-in tournaments is between now and April 14.
As a reminder, the NBA play in tournament will determine the no. 7 and no. 8 seeds in both conferences. Four teams (seeds 7–10) in each conference will enter the play-in tournament, with the top six teams automatically qualifying for a playoff spot. The 7th and 8th placed teams will face each other for the No. 7 seed. The ninth- and 10th-place teams will face each other in another game, followed by the losers of the 7/No. Eight game will face the winner of 9/No. 10 games for the No. 8 seed.
For the rest of the season, this will be your one-stop shop for playoff pictures. We’ve got you covered with everything from current standings to tiebreaker situations and magic numbers for both play-in spots and top 6 seeds.
On Friday, March 29, we stand here to enter the basketball game.
If the season ends today, the playoff bracket.
NBA standings, playoff picture: The west
(1) Timberwolves vs. (8) Suns/Kings/Lakers/Warriors
(2) Thunder vs. (7) Suns/Kings
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Mavericks
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Pelicans
NBA standings, playoff picture: East
(1) Celtics vs. (8) Heat/76ers/Bulls/hawks
(2) Bucks vs. (7) Heat/76ers
(3) Cavalry vs. (6) Pacers
(4) Knicks vs. (5) Magic
Western Conference Standings
NBA standings, playoff picture:
1. Minnesota Timberwolves (51-22)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Magic Number: Playoff Spot (1)
Tiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Wolves clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Thunder: The Wolves currently own the division record
NBA standings, playoff picture:
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (51-22)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Magic Number: Playoff Spot (1)
Tiebreaker vs. Nuggets: OKC wins
Tiebreaker vs. Wolves: Wolves currently own the division record
NBA playoff:
3. Denver Nuggets (51-23)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Magic Number: Playoff Spot (1)
Tiebreaker vs. Thunder: OKC wins
Tiebreaker vs Wolves: Wolves clinched
NBA playoff:
4. Los Angeles Clippers (46-27)
Magic Number: Play-In Spot (2)
Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: Pelicans win
Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Clippers lead 2-0 with 2 to play
NBA playoff:
5. New Orleans Pelicans (45-28)
Magic Number: Play-in Spot (3)
Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Pelicans win
Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Pelicans win
Tiebreaker vs Suns: Suns lead 1-0 with 2 to play
NBA playoff:
6. Dallas Mavericks (44-29)
Magic Number: Play-in Spot (4)
Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Mavs lead by conference record
Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Mavs win
Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Mavs lead 2-0 with 2 to play
Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Mavs win
Play-in tournament
7. Phoenix Suns (43-31)
Magic Number: Play-in Spot (5)
Tiebreaker vs. Kings: 2-2 tie with one game to play
Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavs win
Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Sun Clinch
Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinch
8. Sacramento Kings (42-31)
Magic Number: Play-in Spot (6)
Tiebreaker vs. Mavericks: Mavs lead by conference record
Tiebreaker vs. Suns: 2-2 tie with one game to play
Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Kings lead by division record
Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Kings win
9. Los Angeles Lakers (41-33)
Magic Number: Play-in Spot (7)
Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Warriors lead 2-1 with one game to play
Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Lakers win
Tiebreaker vs. Mavs: Mavs clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Kings clinch
Tiebreaker vs. Rockets: Rockets lead by conference record
10. Golden State Warriors (39-34)
Magic Number: Play-in Spot (9)
Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Kings lead by division record
Tiebreaker vs. Mavs: Mavs lead 2-0 with two games to go
Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Suns clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Warriors lead 2-1 in one game
Tiebreaker vs. Rockets: Warriors win
Looking for
11. Houston Rockets (38-35)
Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Rockets lead by conference record
Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Warriors win
Eastern Conference Standings
1. Boston Celtics (57-16)
Clinched: No. 1 seed
Magic Number: Best Overall Record (5)
2. Milwaukee Bucks (46-27)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Magic Number: Playoff Spot (3)
Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Bucks clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Bucks lead by division leader
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (45-29)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Magic Number: Playoff Spot (4)
Tiebreaker vs. Bucks: Bucks lead by division leader
Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Knicks clinch
Tiebreaker vs. Magic: The Magic are currently the division leaders
4. New York Knicks (44-29)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Magic Number: Playoff Spot (5)
Tiebreaker vs. Box: Box clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Knicks clinch
Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic Cleaned
5. Orlando Magic (42-31)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Magic Number: Playoff Spot (7)
Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Magic currently by division leaders
Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Magic clinched
Tiebreaker vs. Pacers: Magic clinched
6. Indiana Pacers (41-33)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Magic Number: Playoff Spot (7)
Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic Cleaned
Tiebreaker vs. Heat: Game tied at 1-1
Tiebreaker vs. 76ers: Pacers win
Play-in tournament
7. Miami Heat (40-33)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Tiebreaker vs. Pacers: Game tied at 1-1
Tiebreaker Vs
8. Philadelphia 76ers (39-35)
Clinched: Play-in spot
Tiebreaker vs. Pacers: Pacers
Tiebreaker vs. Heat: Miami leads 2-1 in game one
9. Chicago Bulls (35-39)
Magic Number: Play-in Spot (3)
Tiebreaker vs. Hawks: Bulls clinched
10. Atlanta Hawks (34-39)
Magic Number: Play-in Spot (4)
Tiebreaker vs. Bulls: Bulls clinch