The final week of the 2023-24 NBA regular season is here, and the postseason gets started next week. The playoff picture is coming into focus, and we know the 20 teams who will qualify for the postseason. Only five teams, however, have clinched a top-six seed and automatic entry into the first round of the playoffs. Plenty will be decided in the regular season’s final week with seeding, home-court advantage and the chance to avoid the Play-In Tournament are all on the line between now and Sunday.
So what’s the latest in the NBA’s playoff picture? The entire league was off on Monday night (and will be off again Saturday). There are only five nights of action remaining in the regular season, but there are some vital games on the schedule this week.
As a reminder, the NBA’s Play-In Tournament will determine the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in both conferences. Four teams in each conference (the 7-10 seeds) will enter the Play-In Tournament, while the top six seeds will automatically qualify for playoff spots. The seventh- and eighth-placed teams will face each other for the No. 7 seed. The ninth- and 10th-placed teams will face each other in another game, and then the loser of the No. 7/No. 8 game will face the winner of the No. 9/No. 10 game for the No. 8 seed.
For the remainder of the season, this will be your one-stop shop playoff picture. We’ve got you covered on everything from the current standings to tiebreaker scenarios and magic numbers for both play-in spots and top-six seeds.
Here’s where we stand entering play on Tuesday, April 9.
Playoff bracket if the season ended today…
West
(1) Timberwolves vs. (8) Pelicans/Kings/Lakers/Warriors
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Pelicans/Kings
(3) Thunder vs. (6) Suns
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Mavericks
East
(1) Celtics vs. (8) 76ers/Heat/Bulls/Hawks
(2) Bucks vs. (7) 76ers/Heat
(3) Magic vs. (6) Pacers
(4) Knicks vs. (5) Cavaliers
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
- Clinched: Top-four seed
- Magic number: No. 1 seed in West (4)
- Tiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Wolves clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Thunder: Wolves currently own via division record
- Clinched: Top-four seed
- Tiebreaker vs. Thunder: Thunder clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Wolves: Wolves clinched
- Clinched: Top-four seed
- Tiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Thunder clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Wolves: Wolves currently own via division record
- Magic Number: Playoff spot (1)
- Tiebreaker vs. Pelicans: Pelicans clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Clippers lead 2-0 with two to play
- Magic Number: Playoff spot (2)
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Dallas currently owns via division win percentage
- Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Mavs lead via conference record
- Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Mavs clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Mavs lead 2-0 with two to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Mavs clinched
- Magic Number: Playoff spot (4)
- Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Suns clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Tied 2-2 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavs clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Suns clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinched
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
7. New Orleans Pelicans (46-32)
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: Pelicans have clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Pelicans have clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Suns have clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Dallas: Dallas currently owns via division win percentage
- Tiebreaker vs. Mavericks: Mavs lead via conference record
- Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Tied 2-2 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Kings lead via division record
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Kings have clinched
9. Los Angeles Lakers (45-34)
- Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Lakers clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Mavs: Mavs clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Kings clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Kings lead via division record
- Tiebreaker vs. Mavs: Mavs lead 2-0 with two to play
- Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Suns clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Warriors lead 2-1 with one to play
EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
1. Boston Celtics (61-16)
- Clinched: NBA’s best record
2. Milwaukee Bucks (47-31)
- Clinched: Playoff spot
- Magic Number: Top-four seed (3)
- Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Bucks clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Bucks lead via division leader
- Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Tied 1-1 with two to play
3. Orlando Magic (46-32)
- Magic Number: Playoff spot (2)
- Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Magic currently own via division leader
- Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Magic clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Pacers: Magic clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Milwaukee: Tied 1-1 with two to play
- Magic Number: Playoff spot (2)
- Tiebreaker vs. Bucks: Bucks clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Knicks clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic clinched
- Clinched: Play-In spot
- Magic Number: Playoff spot (2)
- Tiebreaker vs. Bucks: Bucks lead via division leader
- Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Knicks clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic currently own via division leader
6. Indiana Pacers (45-34)
- Magic Number: Playoff spot (3)
- Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Heat: Tied 1-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. 76ers: Pacers clinched
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
- Tiebreaker vs. Pacers: Pacers clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Heat: Miami leads via conference record
- Tiebreaker vs. Pacers: Tied 1-1 with one to play
- Tiebreaker vs. 76ers: Miami leads via conference record
- Tiebreaker vs. Hawks: Bulls clinched
- Tiebreaker vs. Bulls: Bulls clinched
News Summary:
- NBA playoff picture, standings: Bracket, tiebreakers with nearly every seed up for grabs entering final week
- Check all news and articles from the latest NBA updates.