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) Toronto Raptors 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) Philadelphia 76ers
(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, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, in some order, appear bound for the top four playoff seeds and home-court advantage in the opening round. The Pistons are on the brink of capturing the East’s No. 1 seed, despite missing injured star guard Cade Cunningham.
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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, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are all jockeying for position down the stretch of a season that has surpassed 75 games.
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 56-21 | Net rating: 8.1 (3rd)
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Clinched playoff berth and Central Division title
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Remaining schedule: @PHI, @ORL, MIL, @CHA, @IND
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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 Eastern Conference playoffs.
Record: 51-25 | Net rating: 7.8 (4th)
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Magic number for No. 2 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: @MIL, 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: 49-28 | Net rating: 6.1 (5th)
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Magic number for No. 3 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: CHI, @ATL, BOS, TOR, CHA
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Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 5 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. 7 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Battling for guaranteed playoff spot
Record: 44-33 | Net rating: 2.1 (11th)
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Magic number for No. 5 seed: 5
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Remaining schedule: @BKN, NYK, @CLE, CLE, @MIA
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 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: 42-34 | Net rating: -0.1 (17th)
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Magic number for No. 6 seed: Do not control own destiny
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Remaining schedule: MIN, DET, @SAS, @HOU, @IND, MIL
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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: 42-34 | Net rating: 2.1 (12th)
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Magic number for No. 7 seed: 5
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Remaining schedule: @MEM, @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: 41-36 | Net rating: 4.8 (6th)
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Magic number for No. 8 seed: 5
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Remaining schedule: IND, @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: 40-36 | Net rating: -0.2 (18th)
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: 5
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Remaining schedule: @DAL, @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: 40-37 | Net rating: 1.9 (13th)
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control own destiny
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Remaining schedule: WAS, @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.
Thursday’s games of consequence
Friday’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 two-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.
The Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, all but assured of the West’s final three guaranteed playoff spots, are separated by two losses. Only one of those teams will earn home-court advantage in the first round.
The four teams for the conference’s play-in tournament field are almost set. The Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors appear headed for the Nos. 7-10 seeds.
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 61-16 | Net rating: 10.9 (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: 59-18 | Net rating: 8.5 (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: @DEN, 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.
Record: 50-27 | Net rating: 1.9 (14th)
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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: 49-28 | Net rating: 4.8 (7th)
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Magic number for No. 4 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: SAS, 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. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Record: 47-29 | Net rating: 4.6 (8th)
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Magic number for No. 5 seed: 6
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Remaining schedule: UTA, @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: 46-30 | Net rating: 3.6 (10th)
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Magic number for No. 6 seed: 2
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Remaining schedule: @PHI, 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: 1.6 (15th)
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Magic number for No. 7 seed: 4
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Remaining schedule: @CHI, HOU, DAL, @LAL, @OKC
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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. 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: -0.7 (20th)
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: 3
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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: 1.4 (16th)
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Magic number for No. 8 seed: 6
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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: -0.2 (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. 7 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.