The National Basketball Association’s postseason landscape will become progressively clearer each day leading up to the conclusion of the regular season on April 12. In the interim, we will offer comprehensive daily updates regarding the current standings, including essential magic numbers, upcoming fixture lists, and the implications for each day’s series of matchups. For those franchises not vying for a playoff berth, we will also analyze the competition for the top position in the forthcoming NBA Draft lottery.
Jump to: Eastern Conference • Western Conference
PRESENT PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT SEEDINGS
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers versus (8) Orlando Magic
(9) Charlotte Hornets versus (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns versus (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers versus (10) Golden State Warriors
PRESENT POSTSEASON BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons versus (8) play-in victor
(2) Boston Celtics versus (7) play-In victor
(3) New York Knicks versus (6) Toronto Raptors
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers versus (5) Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder versus (8) play-In victor
(2) San Antonio Spurs versus (7) play-In victor
(3) Los Angeles Lakers versus (6) Houston Rockets<
(4) Denver Nuggets versus (5) Minnesota Timberwolves
EASTERN CONFERENCE COMPETITION
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to secure the top four playoff positions and thus, home-court advantage during the initial round. The Pistons, maintaining a four-game advantage over the Celtics, are almost certain to claim the East’s top seed, unless there’s a significant downturn in performance due to the absence of the injured Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung).
The specific opponents for these four teams in the opening round remain highly contested, as only two victories separate the fifth seed from the tenth seed. The Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, and Miami Heat are all vying for optimal placement in the final stretch of a season that has now exceeded 70 games.
While technically still in contention for the postseason, the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls are engaged in a different sort of competition — one focused on improving their lottery probabilities.
Clinched postseason berth, seeding yet to be finalized
Season performance: 53-20 | Efficiency metric: 7.9 (3rd)
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Upcoming fixtures: @MIN, @OKC, TOR, MIN, @PHI, @ORL, MIL, @CHA, @IND
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Best possible standing: No. 1 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 4 seed
Current objective: The No. 1 seed and securing home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Vying for a direct playoff entry
Season performance: (48-24) | Efficiency metric: 7.8 (4th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 2 seed: 9
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Upcoming fixtures: ATL, @CHA, @ATL, @MIA, @MIL, TOR, CHA, @NYK, NOP, ORL
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Best possible standing: No. 1 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 9 seed
Current objective: The No. 2 seed and securing home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Season performance: 48-26 | Efficiency metric: 6.8 (5th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 3 seed: 7
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Upcoming fixtures: @OKC, @HOU, @MEM, CHI, @ATL, BOS, TOR, CHA
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Best possible standing: No. 1 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 7 seed
Current objective: The No. 2 seed and securing home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Season performance: 45-28 | Efficiency metric: 4.0 (8th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 4 seed: 6
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Upcoming fixtures: MIA, @UTA, @LAL, @GSW, IND, @MEM, ATL, @ATL, WAS
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Best possible standing: No. 1 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 4 seed and securing home-court advantage in the first round.
Season performance: 41-32 | Efficiency metric: 1.7 (12th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 6 seed: 8
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Upcoming fixtures: @BOS, SAC, BOS, @ORL, @BKN, NYK, @CLE, CLE, @MIA
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Best possible standing: No. 2 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 5 or 6 seed, guaranteeing a playoff spot.
Season performance: 40-32 | Efficiency metric: 1.6 (13th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 6 seed: 10
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Upcoming fixtures: NOP, ORL, @DET, SAC, @MEM, @BOS, MIA, MIA, @NYK, BKN
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Best possible standing: No. 2 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 5 or 6 seed, guaranteeing a playoff spot.
Season performance: 40-33 | Efficiency metric: -0.3 (19th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 7 seed: 9
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Upcoming fixtures: @CHA, @MIA, @WAS, MIN, DET, @SAS, @HOU, @IND, MIL
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Best possible standing: No. 3 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 5 or 6 seed, guaranteeing a playoff spot.
Season performance: 39-34 | Efficiency metric: 0.7 (17th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 9 seed: 9
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Number of wins needed for No. 10 seed: 1
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Upcoming fixtures: @TOR, PHX, ATL, @DAL, @NOP, DET, MIN, @CHI, @BOS
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Best possible standing: No. 3 seed
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Worst possible standing: Elimination from postseason contention
Current objective: The No. 5 or 6 seed, guaranteeing a playoff spot.
Season performance: 39-34 | Efficiency metric: 4.7 (6th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 9 seed: 9
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Number of wins needed for No. 10 seed: 1
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Upcoming fixtures: PHI, BOS, @BKN, PHX, IND, @MIN, @BOS, DET, @NYK
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Best possible standing: No. 3 seed
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Worst possible standing: Elimination from postseason contention
Current objective: The No. 5 or 6 seed, guaranteeing a playoff spot.
Season performance: 39-34 | Efficiency metric: 2.6 (11th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 9 seed: 9
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Number of wins needed for No. 10 seed: 1
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Upcoming fixtures: @CLE, @IND, PHI, BOS, WAS, @TOR, @TOR, @WAS, ATL
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Best possible standing: No. 3 seed
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Worst possible standing: Elimination from postseason contention
Current objective: The No. 5 or 6 seed, guaranteeing a playoff spot.
Still theoretically in contention
Season performance: 29-43 | Efficiency metric: -5.5 (25th)
Season performance: 29-43 | Efficiency metric: -4.3 (23rd)
Current objective: The team finishing with a poorer record will secure a 20.3% probability of a top-four draft selection and a 4.5% probability for the No. 1 pick. Conversely, the team with a superior record will obtain a 13.9% chance for a top-four pick and a 3% chance for the No. 1 pick. Nevertheless, if the Bucks ultimately land the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery — or any pick superior to that of the New Orleans Pelicans — it will be transferred to the Hawks.
Thursday’s impactful games
Friday’s impactful games
Bulls are removed from postseason contention with a loss
WESTERN CONFERENCE COMPETITION
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are destined for the top two seeds, with OKC holding a two-game advantage for the league’s overall No. 1 seed.
The Los Angeles Lakers, propelled by their recent nine-game winning streak, have emerged as strong contenders to secure the conference’s No. 3 seed. Beyond them, the outcome is highly unpredictable.
The Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets are all but assured of the West’s final three guaranteed playoff berths, with only a single defeat separating their standings. However, only one of these three teams will earn home-court advantage in the initial round.
The four teams for the conference’s play-in tournament field are nearly set following the Memphis Grizzlies’ elimination on Wednesday. The Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors appear destined for the Nos. 7-10 seeds.
Clinched postseason berth, seeding yet to be finalized
Season performance: 57-16 | Efficiency metric: 10.8 (1st)
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Upcoming fixtures: CHI, NYK, DET, LAL, UTA, @LAL, @LAC, @DEN, PHX
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Best possible standing: No. 1 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 2 seed
Current objective: The No. 1 seed and securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Season performance: 55-18 | Efficiency metric: 8.0 (2nd)
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Number of wins needed for No. 2 seed: 1
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Upcoming fixtures: @MIL, CHI, @GSW, @LAC, @DEN, PHI, POR, DAL, DEN
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Best possible standing: No. 1 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 3 seed
Current objective: The No. 2 seed and securing home-court advantage in the Western Conference semifinals.
Vying for a direct playoff entry
Season performance: 47-26 | Efficiency metric: 1.3 (15th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 3 seed: 7
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Upcoming fixtures: BKN, WAS, CLE, @OKC, @DAL, OKC, @GSW, PHX, UTA
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Best possible standing: No. 2 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 7 seed
Current objective: The No. 3 seed and securing home-court advantage in the first round.
Season performance: 46-28 | Efficiency metric: 4.4 (7th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 4 seed: 8
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Upcoming fixtures: UTA, GSW, @UTA, SAS, POR, MEM, OKC, @SAS
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Best possible standing: No. 3 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 7 seed
Current objective: The No. 4 seed and securing home-court advantage in the first round.
Season performance: 45-28 | Efficiency metric: 3.6 (10th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 5 seed: 9
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Upcoming fixtures: DET, @DAL, @DET, @PHI, CHA, @IND, @ORL, @HOU, NOP
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Best possible standing: No. 3 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 8 seed
Current objective: The No. 4 seed and securing home-court advantage in the first round.
Season performance: 43-29 | Efficiency metric: 3.9 (9th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 6 seed: 7
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Upcoming fixtures: @MEM, @NOP, NYK, MIL, UTA, @GSW, @PHX, PHI, MIN, MIN
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Best possible standing: No. 3 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 4 seed and securing home-court advantage in the first round.
Season performance: 40-33 | Efficiency metric: 1.0 (15th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 7 seed: 7
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Upcoming fixtures: UTA, @MEM, @ORL, @CHA, @CHI, HOU, DAL, @LAL, @OKC
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Best possible standing: No. 3 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 7 seed and securing home-court advantage against the No. 8 seed in their initial play-in tournament game.
Season performance: 37-36 | Efficiency metric: 1.3 (14th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 8 seed: 8
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Upcoming fixtures: @IND, @MIL, POR, SAS, @SAC, DAL, OKC, @POR, GSW
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Best possible standing: No. 5 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 8 seed and two opportunities to secure a playoff berth.
Season performance: 37-37 | Efficiency metric: -1.3 (20th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 9 seed: 8
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Upcoming fixtures: DAL, WAS, @LAC, NOP, @DEN, @SAS, LAC, SAC
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Best possible standing: No. 6 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 8 seed and two opportunities to secure a playoff berth.
Season performance: 35-38 | Efficiency metric: 0.3 (18th)
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Number of wins needed for No. 10 seed: 3
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Upcoming fixtures: WAS, @DEN, SAS, CLE, HOU, SAC, LAL, @SAC, @LAC
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Best possible standing: No. 6 seed
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Worst possible standing: No. 10 seed
Current objective: The No. 8 seed and two opportunities to secure a playoff berth.
