The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on Sunday. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, remaining schedules, relevant tiebreakers and the stakes for every day’s slate of games.
Click here for the Eastern Conference.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 65-14 | Net rating: 12.4 (1st)
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• Clinched No. 1 seed
What’s at stake: First-round series vs. No. 8 seed (LAL, DEN, LAC, GSW, MIN, MEM, SAC, DAL or PHX)
2. Houston Rockets
Record: 52-27 | Net rating: 5.6 (4th)
• Clinched No. 2 seed
What’s at stake: First-round series vs. No. 7 seed (LAL, DEN, LAC, GSW, MIN or MEM)
Battling for guaranteed playoff spot
3. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 48-31 | Net rating: 1.1 (14th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @DAL, HOU, @POR
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers won: LAC (3-1), GSW (3-1), MEM (3-1)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
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4. Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 47-32 | Net rating: 4.8 (5th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: HOU, @SAC, @GSW
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers won: GSW (3-0), MEM (3-0)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
5. Denver Nuggets
Record: 47-32 | Net rating: 3.6 (9th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @SAC, MEM, @HOU
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers won: GSW (2-1)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
6. Golden State Warriors
Record: 47-32 | Net rating: 3.3 (10th)
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• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: SAS, @POR, LAC
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers won: MEM (3-1)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
7. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 47-32 | Net rating: 4.7 (6th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: MIN, @DEN, DAL
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 46-33 | Net rating: 4.4 (7th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: @MEM, BKN, UTA
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers won: LAC (3-0), DEN (4-0), GSW (3-1), MEM (2-0)
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What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
Play-in bound
9. Sacramento Kings
Record: 39-40 | Net rating: 0.6 (15th)
• Magic number for No. 9 seed: 2
• Remaining schedule: DEN, LAC, PHX
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
• Tiebreakers won: DAL (3-0)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. DAL or PHX
Play-in hopefuls
10. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 38-41 | Net rating: -1.0 (18th)
• Magic number for top-10 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: LAL, TOR, @MEM
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
• Lowest possible finish: Out of play-in tournament
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What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. SAC
11. Phoenix Suns
Record: 35-44 | Net rating: -3.0 (23rd)
• Magic number for top-10 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: OKC, SAS, @SAC
• Highest possible finish: No. 10 seed
• Lowest possible finish: Out of play-in tournament
• Relevant tiebreakers: DAL (3-1)
What’s at stake: Play-in tournament berth
Wednesday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
• Lakers at Mavericks (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
DAL can clinch a play-in tournament berth with a win or a PHX loss
DAL will be locked into the No. 10 seed with a loss, a SAC win and a PHX loss
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• Nuggets at Kings (10 p.m., ESPN)
SAC can clinch the No. 9 seed with a win and a DAL loss
• Thunder at Suns (10 p.m.)
PHX will be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss or a DAL win
• Spurs at Warriors (10 p.m.)
• Rockets at Clippers (10:30 p.m.)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 63-16 | Net rating: 9.6 (2nd)
• Clinched No. 1 seed
What’s at stake: First-round series vs. No. 8 seed (ORL, ATL, CHI or MIA)
2. Boston Celtics
Record: 59-20 | Net rating: 9.4 (3rd)
• Clinched No. 2 seed
What’s at stake: First-round series vs. No. 7 seed (ORL, ATL, CHI or MIA)
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
3. New York Knicks
Record: 50-29 | Net rating: 4.3 (8th)
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• Clinched playoff berth
• Magic number for No. 3 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @DET, CLE, @BKN
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed
• Tiebreakers won: IND (2-1)
What’s at stake: First-round series vs. MIL or DET
4. Indiana Pacers
Record: 48-31 | Net rating: 2.2 (11th)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Magic number for No. 4 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: CLE, ORL, @CLE
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 5 seed
What’s at stake: First-round series vs. MIL or DET
5. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 45-34 | Net rating: 2.0 (13th)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Magic number for No. 5 seed: 2
• Remaining schedule: NOP, @DET, DET
• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 6 seed
• Tiebreakers won: IND (3-1), DET (3-1)
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What’s at stake: First-round series vs. NYK or IND
6. Detroit Pistons
Record: 43-36 | Net rating: 2.2 (12th)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Magic number for No. 5 seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: NYK, MIL, @MIL
• Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 6 seed
What’s at stake: First-round series vs. NYK or IND
Play-in bound
7. Orlando Magic
Record: 39-40 | Net rating: -0.4 (17th)
• Magic number for top-eight seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: BOS, @IND, @ATL
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in 7/8 play-in game
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8. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 37-42 | Net rating: -1.7 (19th)
• Magic number for top-eight seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @BKN, @PHI, ORL
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in 7/8 play-in game
9. Chicago Bulls
Record: 36-43 | Net rating: -2.4 (20th)
• Magic number for No. 9 seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: MIA, WAS, @PHI
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
• Tiebreakers won: ORL (2-1), MIA (2-0)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in 7/8 play-in game
10. Miami Heat
Record: 36-43 | Net rating: 0.0 (16th)
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• Magic number for No. 9 seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @CHI, @NOP, WAS
• Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: Avoid 9/10 play-in elimination game
Wednesday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
• Celtics at Magic (7 p.m.)
ORL can clinch a top-eight seed with a win
• Heat at Bulls (8 p.m.)
