The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 14. 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.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Minnesota Timberwolves (53-24)
Clinched playoff berth
2. Denver Nuggets (53-24)
Clinched playoff berth
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (52-25)
Clinched playoff berth
4. Los Angeles Clippers (49-28)
5. Dallas Mavericks (47-30)
6. Phoenix Suns (46-31)
7. New Orleans Pelicans (45-32)
8. Sacramento Kings (44-33)
9. Los Angeles Lakers (44-33)
10. Golden State Warriors (42-35)
11. Houston Rockets (38-39)
Saturday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
Cavaliers at Lakers (3:30 p.m.)
Hawks at Nuggets (9 p.m.)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Boston Celtics (61-16)
Clinched No. 1 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 8 seed (determined by play-in tournament)
2. Milwaukee Bucks (47-30)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-31)
4. Orlando Magic (45-32)
5. New York Knicks (45-32)
6. Indiana Pacers (44-34)
7. Miami Heat (43-34)
8. Philadelphia 76ers (42-35)
9. Chicago Bulls (37-40)
Clinched play-in berth
10. Atlanta Hawks (36-41)
Clinched play-in berth
Saturday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
Cavaliers at Lakers (3:30 p.m.)
76ers at Grizzlies (8 p.m.)
Hawks at Nuggets (9 p.m.)
Source Agencies
