The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 12. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, remaining schedules and the stakes for every day’s slate of games. For those teams not in the postseason hunt, we also break down the “race” for pole position in the upcoming NBA Draft lottery.
Jump to: Eastern Conference • Western Conference
CURRENT PLAY-IN BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
(9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat
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Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
(9) LA Clippers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
CURRENT PLAYOFF BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) play-in winner
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) play-In winner
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Houston Rockets
EASTERN CONFERENCE RACE
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed, and the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers appear bound for the next three seeds, in some order, and home-court advantage in the opening round.
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Who, exactly, those four teams will play in the opening round is still up for grabs, as just two wins separate the sixth seed from the 10th seed. The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are all jockeying for position in the final week of the season.
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
Record: 57-21 | Net rating: 8.3 (3rd)
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Remaining schedule: @ORL, MIL, @CHA, @IND
What’s at stake: First-round matchup against No. 8 seed
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 52-25 | Net rating: 8.1 (4th)
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Magic number for No. 2 seed: 3
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Remaining schedule: TOR, CHA, @NYK, NOP, ORL
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Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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Record: 50-28 | Net rating: 6.5 (5th)
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Magic number for No. 3 seed: 3
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Remaining schedule: @ATL, BOS, TOR, CHA
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Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No.4 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Record: 48-29 | Net rating: 4.1 (9th)
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Magic number for No. 4 seed: 2
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Remaining schedule: IND, @MEM, ATL, @ATL, WAS
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Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 6 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Battling for guaranteed playoff spot
Record: 45-33 | Net rating: 2.5 (11th)
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Magic number for No. 5 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: NYK, @CLE, CLE, @MIA
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Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 43-34 | Net rating: 2.5 (12th)
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Magic number for No. 6 seed: 5
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Remaining schedule: @BOS, MIA, MIA, @NYK, BKN
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Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 43-35 | Net rating: -0.2 (18th)
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Magic number for No. 7 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: @SAS, @HOU, @IND, MIL
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 42-36 | Net rating: 5.2 (6th)
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Magic number for No. 8 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: @MIN, @BOS, DET, @NYK
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 41-36 | Net rating: 0.0 (17th)
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: @NOP, DET, MIN, @CHI, @BOS
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 41-37 | Net rating: 2.1 (13th)
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control own destiny
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Remaining schedule: @TOR, @TOR, @WAS, ATL
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Saturday’s games of consequence
Sunday’s games of consequence
WESTERN CONFERENCE RACE
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are bound for the top two seeds, as OKC holds a 2.5-game lead for the league’s No. 1 overall seed.
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The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to hold off the Denver Nuggets for the West’s No. 3 seed. Only two losses separate the Lakers, Nuggets and Houston Rockets.
The Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors are locked into the West’s play-in tournament and the Phoenix Suns are close to joining them, likely as the No. 7 seed.
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 61-16 | Net rating: 11.3 (1st)
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Clinched playoff berth and Northwest Division title
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Remaining schedule: UTA, @LAL, @LAC, @DEN, PHX
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Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 2 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Record: 59-19 | Net rating: 8.4 (2nd)
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Clinched playoff berth and Southwest Division title
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Magic number for No. 1 seed: Do not control own destiny
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Remaining schedule: PHI, POR, DAL, DEN
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Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 2 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
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Record: 50-27 | Net rating: 1.3 (15th)
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Clinched playoff berth and Pacific Division title
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Magic number for No. 3 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: @DAL, OKC, @GSW, PHX, UTA
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 6 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Record: 50-28 | Net rating: 4.8 (8th)
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Magic number for No. 4 seed: 3
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Remaining schedule: POR, MEM, OKC, @SAS
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 6 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Record: 48-29 | Net rating: 5.0 (7th)
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Magic number for No. 5 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: @GSW, @PHX, PHI, MIN, MIN
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Battling for guaranteed playoff spot
Record: 46-31 | Net rating: 3.3 (10th)
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Clinches playoff berth with win over Hornets and Suns loss to Bulls
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Magic number for No. 6 seed: 2
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Remaining schedule: CHA, @IND, @ORL, @HOU, NOP
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Record: 42-35 | Net rating: 1.3 (14th)
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Locked into play-in tournament with loss to Bulls and Timberwolves win over Hornets
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Magic number for No. 7 seed: 3
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Remaining schedule: @CHI, HOU, DAL, @LAL, @OKC
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Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 7 seed and home-court advantage against the No. 8 seed in their opening game of the play-in tournament.
Play-in bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 40-38 | Net rating: -0.6 (20th)
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Magic number for No. 8 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: @DEN, @SAS, LAC, SAC
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Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.
Record: 39-38 | Net rating: 1.1 (16th)
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Magic number for No. 8 seed: 5
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Remaining schedule: @SAC, DAL, OKC, @POR, GSW
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Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.
Record: 36-41 | Net rating: -0.3 (19th)
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control own destiny
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Remaining schedule: HOU, SAC, LAL, @SAC, @LAC
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Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 9 seed and home-court advantage against the No. 10 seed in the play-in tournament.