THE NBA the playoffs are almost here. Less than a month remains in the regular season, with the playoffs scheduled to begin on April 16 with the Play-In tournament. The playoffs will begin on April 20. Although it seems likely that we know the 20 NBA teams who will qualify for the playoffs, there are a lot of things to decide in the final weeks of the regular season. Rankings, home field advantage and the chance to avoid the Play-In tournament are all on the line between now and April 14.
So, what’s the latest news when it comes to the NBA playoffs? The Indiana Pacers clinched at least a Play-In berth with a victory against the Warriors on Friday. For Golden State, the loss leaves them just two points ahead of the Rockets in the loss column for the final spot in the West Play-In.
The Celtics, who beat Detroit on Friday, have clinched a spot among the top two seeds in the East and have a magic number of three to clinch the No. 1 seed.
As a reminder, the NBA Play-In tournament will determine the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the two conferences. Four teams from each conference (seeds 7-10) will participate in the Play-In tournament, while the top six seeds will automatically qualify for playoff spots. The seventh and eighth seeded teams will compete for the No. 7 seed. The ninth and tenth ranked teams will face each other in another match, then the loser of #7/#1. Match #8 will face the winner of match #9/#. 10th match for the No. 8 seed.
For the rest of the season, this will be your single playoff picture. We’ve got you covered, from the current standings to tiebreaker scenarios and magic numbers for play-in spots and the top six seeds.
Here’s where we stand heading into play on Wednesday, March 20.
Playoff table if the season ended today…
West
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Suns/Kings/Lakers/Warriors
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Suns/Kings
(3) Timberwolves vs. (6) Mavericks
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Pelicans
East
(1) Celtics vs. (8) Heat/76ers/Bulls/Hawks
(2) Deer vs. (7) Heat/76ers
(3) Cavaliers vs. (6) Pacers
(4) Magic vs. (5) Knicks
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
- Off hook : Place of play
- Magic number: Playoff spot (4)
- Tiebreaker vs. Denver: OKC clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Minnesota: OKC currently has as division head
- Off hook : Place of play
- Magic number: Playoff spot (4)
- Tiebreaker vs. OKC: OKC clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Minnesota: Tied 1-1 with two to play
- Magic numbers: Place for Play-In (1), Place for Playoffs (6)
- Tiebreaker vs. Denver: Tied 1-1 with two to play
- Tiebreaker vs. OKC: OKC currently has as division head
- Magic number: Play-in place (4)
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: The Pelicans clinched
5. New Orleans Pelicans (43-27)
- Magic number: Play-in place (5)
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: The Pelicans clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: The Pelicans clinched
- Magic number: Play-in place (7)
- Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Kings lead 2-0 with two to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: The Mavs won
- Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Mavs lead 2-0 with two to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: The Mavs won
GAMING TOURNAMENT
- Magic numbers: Play-in place (7)
- Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Tied 2-2 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: The Mavs won
- Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: The Suns have landed
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: The Lakers won
8. Sacramento Kings (40-29)
- Magic number: Play-in places (8)
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: The Pelicans clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Kings lead 2-0 with two to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: Tied 2-2 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Kings lead with division record
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: The kings have won
9. Los Angeles Lakers (38-32)
- Magic number: Play-in place (10)
- Tiebreaker vs. Golden State: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: The Lakers won
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: The Mavs won
- Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: The kings have won
- Magic number: Play-in place (11)
- Tiebreaker vs. Sacramento: Kings lead with division record
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavs lead 2-0 with two to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Phoenix: The Suns have landed
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
ON THE HUNT
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Rockets lead with conference record
- Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: The Warriors won
EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
1. Boston Celtics (55-14)
- Off hook : Second seed
- Magic number: Seed #1 (3)
2. Milwaukee Bucks (45-25)
- Off hook : Place of play
- Magic number: Playoff spot (6)
- Tiebreaker vs. Cleveland: Bucks lead via division leader
- Off hook : Place of play
- Magic number: Playoff spot (9)
- Tiebreaker vs. Milwaukee: Bucks lead via division leader
- Tiebreaker against New York: The Cavs won
4. Orlando Magic (42-28)
- Off hook : Place of play
- Magic number: Playoff spot (9)
- Tiebreaker against New York: The magic has broken down
- Tiebreaker vs. Indiana: The magic has broken down
- Off hook : Place of play
- Magic number: Playoff spot (10)
- Tiebreaker vs. Cleveland: The Cavs won
- Tiebreaker vs. Orlando: The magic has broken down
6. Indiana Pacers (40-31)
- Off hook : Place of play
- Magic number: Playoff spot (11)
- Tiebreaker vs. Orlando: The magic has broken down
- Tiebreaker vs. Miami: Tied 1-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Philadelphia: The Pacers taken down
GAMING TOURNAMENT
- Magic number: Play-in place (1)
- Tiebreaker vs. Indiana: Tied 1-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Philadelphia: Miami leads 2-1 with one to play
- Magic number: Play-in place (1)
- Tiebreaker vs. Indiana: Pacers off hook
- Tiebreaker vs. Miami: Miami leads 2-1 with one to play
- Magic number: Play-in place (5)
- Tiebreaker vs. Atlanta: The bulls have stalled
- Magic number: Play-in place (9)
- Tiebreaker vs. Chicago: The bulls have stalled
