NBA playoff picture April 1: All of the scenarios and stakes for postseason contenders down the stretch run
The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view every day between now and the finish of the common season on April 12. In the meantime, we are going to present detailed each day updates on the panorama, together with magic numbers, remaining schedules and the stakes for every day’s slate of games. And for these groups not in the postseason hunt, we additionally broke down the “race” for pole place in the upcoming NBA Draft lottery.
Jump to: Eastern Conference • Western Conference
CURRENT PLAY-IN BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Orlando Magic
(9) Miami Heat vs. (10) Charlotte Hornets
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Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
CURRENT PLAYOFF BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) play-in winner
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) play-in winner
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) play-in winner
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) play-in winner
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Minnesota Timberwolves
EASTERN CONFERENCE RACE
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, in some order, seem certain for the prime 4 playoff seeds and home-court benefit in the opening spherical. The Pistons are nearly sure to seize the East’s No. 1 seed, barring a whole meltdown in the absence of injured Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung).
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Who, precisely, these 4 groups will play in the opening spherical is up for grabs, as simply three wins separate the fifth seed from the tenth seed. The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets are all jockeying for place down the stretch of a season that has surpassed 75 video games.
Playoff-bound, seeding to be decided
Record: 55-21 | Net score: 8.1 (third)
Clinched playoff berth and Central Division title
Remaining schedule: MIN, @PHI, @ORL, MIL, @CHA, @IND
Highest potential end: No. 1 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 4 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 1 seed and home-court benefit all through the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Record: (50-25) | Net score: 7.6 (4th)
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Magic quantity for No. 2 seed: 6
Remaining schedule: @MIA, @MIL, TOR, CHA, @NYK, NOP, ORL
Highest potential end: No. 1 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 4 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court benefit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Record: 48-28 | Net score: 6.0 (fifth)
Magic quantity for No. 3 seed: 7
Remaining schedule: @MEM, CHI, @ATL, BOS, TOR, CHA
Highest potential end: No. 1 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 6 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court benefit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Battling for assured playoff spot
Record: 47-29 | Net score: 4.3 (ninth)
Magic quantity for No. 4 seed: 4
Remaining schedule: @GSW, IND, @MEM, ATL, @ATL, WAS
Highest potential end: No. 1 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court benefit in the first spherical.
Record: 43-33 | Net score: 1.8 (thirteenth)
Magic quantity for No. 6 seed: 5
Remaining schedule: @ORL, @BKN, NYK, @CLE, CLE, @MIA
Highest potential end: No. 3 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a assured playoff berth.
Record: 42-33 | Net score: 2.2 (eleventh)
Magic quantity for No. 5 seed: 8
Remaining schedule: SAC, @MEM, @BOS, MIA, MIA, @NYK, BKN
Highest potential end: No. 3 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a assured playoff berth.
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Record: 41-34 | Net score: -0.4 (nineteenth)
Magic quantity for No. 7 seed: 6
Remaining schedule: @WAS, MIN, DET, @SAS, @HOU, @IND, MIL
Highest potential end: No. 4 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a assured playoff berth.
Record: 40-35 | Net score: 0.2 (seventeenth)
Magic quantity for No. 8 seed: 7
Remaining schedule: ATL, @DAL, @NOP, DET, MIN, @CHI, @BOS
Highest potential end: No. 4 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a assured playoff berth.
Record: 40-36 | Net score: 2.1 (twelfth)
Magic quantity for No. 9 seed: Do not management your individual future
Remaining schedule: BOS, WAS, @TOR, @TOR, @WAS, ATL
Highest potential end: No. 4 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a assured playoff berth.
Record: 40-36 | Net score: 4.8 (sixth)
Magic quantity for No. 9 seed: Do not management your individual future
Remaining schedule: PHX, IND, @MIN, @BOS, DET, @NYK
Highest potential end: No. 4 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a assured playoff berth.
Wednesday’s video games of consequence
WESTERN CONFERENCE RACE
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are certain for the prime two seeds, as OKC holds a 2 1/2-game lead for the league’s No. 1 general seed.
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The Los Angeles Lakers are favorites to seize the West’s No. 3 seed. Beyond them is anybody’s guess.
The Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, all however assured the West’s remaining three assured playoff spots, are separated by one loss. Only one of these groups will earn home-court benefit in the first spherical.
The 4 groups for the convention’s play-in event area are nearly set with the Memphis Grizzlies’ elimination. The Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors seem headed for the Nos. 7-10 seeds.
Playoff-bound, seeding to be decided
Record: 60-16 | Net score: 10.9 (1st)
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Clinched playoff berth and Northwest Division title
Remaining schedule: LAL, UTA, @LAL, @LAC, @DEN, PHX
Highest potential end: No. 1 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 2 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 1 seed and home-court benefit all through the playoffs.
Record: 57-18 | Net score: 8.3 (2nd)
Clinched playoff berth and Southwest Division title
Magic quantity for No. 1 seed: Do not management your individual future
Remaining schedule: @GSW, @LAC, @DEN, PHI, POR, DAL, DEN
Highest potential end: No. 1 seed
Lowest potential end: No. 2 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 1 seed and home-court benefit all through the playoffs.
Record: 50-26 | Net score: 1.7 (14th)
Clinched playoff berth and Pacific Division title
Magic quantity for No. 3 seed: 4
Remaining schedule: @OKC, @DAL, OKC, @GSW, PHX, UTA
Highest potential end: No. 3 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 6 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court benefit in the first spherical.
Record: 48-28 | Net score: 4.7 (seventh)
Magic quantity for No. 4 seed: 5
Remaining schedule: @UTA, SAS, POR, MEM, OKC, @SAS
Highest potential end: No. 3 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 6 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court benefit in the first spherical.
Battling for assured playoff spot
Record: 46-29 | Net score: 3.6 (tenth)
Magic quantity for No. 5 seed: 7
Remaining schedule: @DET, @PHI, CHA, @IND, @ORL, @HOU, NOP
Highest potential end: No. 3 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 8 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court benefit in the first spherical.
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Record: 46-29 | Net score: 4.6 (eighth)
Magic quantity for No. 5 seed: 7
Remaining schedule: MIL, UTA, @GSW, @PHX, PHI, MIN, MIN
Highest potential end: No. 3 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 8 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court benefit in the first spherical.
Record: 42-34 | Net score: 1.6 (fifteenth)
Magic quantity for No. 7 seed: 5
Remaining schedule: @CHA, @CHI, HOU, DAL, @LAL, @OKC
Highest potential end: No. 3 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 7 seed and home-court benefit towards the No. 8 seed of their opening recreation of the play-in event.
Record: 39-36 | Net score: 1.5 (sixteenth)
Locked into play-in event with a loss to Trail Blazers and Rockets win over Knicks
Magic quantity for No. 8 seed: 6
Remaining schedule: POR, SAS, @SAC, DAL, OKC, @POR, GSW
Highest potential end: No. 5 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two possibilities to safe a playoff berth.
Play-in certain, seeding to be decided
Record: 38-38 | Net score: -0.9 (twentieth)
Magic quantity for No. 9 seed: 6
Remaining schedule: @LAC, NOP, @DEN, @SAS, LAC, SAC
Highest potential end: No. 7 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two possibilities to safe a playoff berth.
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Record: 36-39 | Net score: 0.0 (18th)
Magic quantity for No. 9 seed: 8
Remaining schedule: SAS, CLE, HOU, SAC, LAL, @SAC, @LAC
Highest potential end: No. 7 seeds
Lowest potential end: No. 10 seeds
What’s at stake: The No. 9 seed and home-court benefit towards the No. 10 seed in the play-in event.
