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, strength of schedule, relevant tiebreakers and the stakes for every day’s slate of games.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Milwaukee Bucks (58-22)
Clinched No. 1 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 8 seed (determined by play-in tournament)
2. Boston Celtics (55-25)
Clinched No. 2 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 7 seed (determined by play-in tournament)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (52-28)
Clinched No. 3 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 6 seed (BKN or MIA)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-30)
Clinched No. 4 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 5 New York Knicks
5. New York Knicks (47-33)
Clinched No. 5 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Brooklyn Nets (44-36)
Magic number for No. 6 seed: 1
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Remaining schedule: ORL, PHI
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Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed (clinched no lower than No. 7)
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Own tiebreakers against: Heat
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
7. Miami Heat (43-37)
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Remaining schedule: @WAS, ORL
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Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed (clinched no lower than No. 7)
8. Atlanta Hawks (41-39)
Magic number for No. 8 seed: 1
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Remaining schedule: PHI, @BOS
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Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
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Own tiebreakers against: Raptors
9. Toronto Raptors (40-40)
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Remaining schedule: @BOS, MIL
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Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
10. Chicago Bulls (38-42)
Clinched No. 10 seed and play-in tournament game vs. No. 9 seed (ATL or TOR)
Friday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
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Miami at Washington (7 p.m.): MIA would be the No. 7 seed in the play-in tournament with a loss.
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Orlando at Brooklyn (7:30 p.m.): BKN can clinch the No. 6 seed and a first-round playoff series against PHI with a win or a MIA loss.
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Philadelphia at Atlanta (7:30 p.m.): ATL can clinch the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament with a win or a TOR loss.
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Toronto at Boston (7:30 p.m.): TOR would be the No. 9 seed in the play-in tournament with a loss or an ATL win.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
*1. Denver Nuggets (52-28)
Clinched No. 1 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 8 seed (determined by play-in tournament)
2. Memphis Grizzlies (50-30)
Magic number for No. 2 seed: 1
3. Sacramento Kings (48-32)
Own tiebreaker for No. 2 seed vs. Memphis
*4. Phoenix Suns (45-35)
Clinched No. 4 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 5 seed (LAC, GSW, LAL, NOP or MIN)
5. Los Angeles Clippers (42-38)
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Remaining schedule: POR, @PHX
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
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Own tiebreakers against: Lakers, Warriors
6. Golden State Warriors (42-38)
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Remaining schedule: @SAC, @POR
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
7. Los Angeles Lakers (41-39)
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Remaining schedule: PHX, UTA
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
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Own tiebreakers against: Warriors, Pelicans
8. New Orleans Pelicans (41-39)
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Remaining schedule: NYK, @MIN
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
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Own tiebreakers against: Clippers
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-40)
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Remaining schedule: @SAS, NOP
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
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Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Lakers
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-42)
Magic number for No. 10 seed: 1
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11. Dallas Mavericks (38-42)
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Remaining schedule: CHI, SAS
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Highest possible finish: No. 10 seed
Friday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
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Memphis at Milwaukee (8 p.m., NBA TV): MEM can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win or a SAC loss.
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New York at New Orleans (8 p.m.)
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Chicago at Dallas (8:30 p.m.): DAL would be eliminated from the postseason with a loss.
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Golden State at Sacramento (10 p.m.): GSW can clinch no lower than a No. 8 seed with a win. GSW can clinch a playoff berth with a win, a LAL loss and a NOP loss.
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Phoenix at Lakers (10:30 p.m., NBA TV)