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, relevant tiebreakers and the stakes for every day’s slate of games.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Clinched playoff berth
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Net rating: 6.8
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Remaining schedule: @DEN, ATL, PHX
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Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 3)
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Own tiebreakers against: Thunder, Nuggets
2. Denver Nuggets (55-24)
Clinched playoff berth
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Net rating: 5.4
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Remaining schedule: MIN, @SAS, @MEM
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Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 3)
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No relevant tiebreakers
Clinched playoff berth
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Net rating: 6.2
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Magic number for top-two seed: Do not control destiny
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Remaining schedule: SAS, MIL, DAL
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Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 3)
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Own tiebreakers against: Nuggets
Clinched playoff berth
5. Dallas Mavericks (49-30)
Clinched playoff berth
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Net rating: 2.8
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Remaining schedule: @MIA, DET, @OKC
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Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 6)
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Own tiebreakers against: Suns, Pelicans
7. Phoenix Suns (46-33)
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Net rating: 2.8
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Remaining schedule: @LAC, @SAC, @MIN
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Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed
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Own tiebreakers against: Pelicans, Warriors
8. Sacramento Kings (45-34)
9. Los Angeles Lakers (45-35)
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Net rating: 0.4
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control destiny
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Remaining schedule: @MEM, @NOP
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Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed
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Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Suns
10. Golden State Warriors (44-35)
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Net rating: 2.4
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Remaining schedule: @POR, NOP, UTA
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Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed
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Own tiebreakers against: Lakers
Wednesday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
Mavericks at Heat (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Spurs at Thunder (8 p.m.)
Timberwolves at Nuggets (10 p.m., ESPN)
Suns at Clippers (10:30 p.m.)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Clinched No. 1 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 8 seed (determined by play-in tournament)
Clinched playoff berth
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Net rating: 3.0
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Remaining schedule: ORL, @OKC, @ORL
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Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 6)
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Own tiebreakers against: Knicks
3. New York Knicks (47-32)
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Net rating: 2.3
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Remaining schedule: @MIL, @PHI, MIL
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Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
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Own tiebreakers against: Knicks, Pacers
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-33)
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Net rating: 2.5
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Remaining schedule: MEM, IND, CHA
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Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
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Own tiebreakers against: Heat
6. Indiana Pacers (46-34)
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Net rating: 2.6
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Remaining schedule: @CLE, ATL
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
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Own tiebreakers against: Bucks, Knicks, 76ers, Heat
7. Philadelphia 76ers (45-35)
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Net rating: 2.8
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Magic number for playoff berth: Do not control destiny
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Remaining schedule: ORL, BKN
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
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Own tiebreakers against: Magic
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Net rating: 1.7
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Magic number for playoff berth: Do not control destiny
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Remaining schedule: DAL, TOR, TOR
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
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Own tiebreakers against: Cavaliers, Magic
Clinched play-in berth
10. Atlanta Hawks (36-43)
Clinched play-in berth
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Net rating: -1.6
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control destiny
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Remaining schedule: CHA, @MIN, @IND
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Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
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No relevant tiebreakers
Wednesday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
Grizzlies at Cavaliers (7 p.m.)
Hornets at Hawks (7:30 p.m.)
Mavericks at Heat (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Magic at Bucks (8 p.m.)
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ORL clinches a guaranteed playoff berth with a win, a CLE loss and a MIA loss
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ORL will be eliminated from contention for the No. 2 seed with a loss
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MIL clinches the tiebreaker against ORL with a win
Source Agencies
