NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket: Warriors gain leg up on Lakers; Clippers, Mavs clinch playoff spots
The final week of the 2023-24 NBA regular season is here, and the postseason gets started next week. We know the 20 teams who will qualify for the postseason, but almost every seed is still up for grabs. Seven teams have clinched a top-six seed and automatic entry into the first round of the playoffs.
The Warriors defeated the Lakers with a historic 3-point barrage on Tuesday. Golden State is still No. 10 in the West, but with the season set to conclude this Sunday, the Warriors control their own destiny to finish at least above the Lakers for No. 9 as they have now clinched the season tiebreaker. Catching the Kings for the No. 8 seed, which would give the Warriors two shots to secure one win for a playoff spot, is within a reasonable reach as Sacramento leads Golden State by an effective two games (Sacramento is up by one loss but owns the tiebreaker) with three to play.
The Kings also lead the Lakers by an effective two games as they have cliched that tiebreaker as well.
Also on Tuesday, the Suns fell to the Clippers to drop below the play-in line at No. 7. The Clippers clinched a playoff spot with the win, and the Pelicans, who defeated Portland, moved up to No. 6. The Mavericks also clinched a playoff spot with their win over Charlotte.
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) Suns/Kings/Lakers/Warriors
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Suns/Kings
(3) Thunder vs. (6) Pelicans
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Mavericks
East
(1) Celtics vs. (8) 76ers/Heat/Bulls/Hawks
(2) Bucks vs. (7) 76ers/Heat
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Pacers
(4) Magic vs. (5) Cavaliers
Clinched: Top-three seedMagic Number: Top-two seed (3)Tiebreaker vs. Thunder: Thunder clinchedTiebreaker vs. Wolves: Wolves clinched3. Oklahoma City Thunder (54-25)Clinched: Top-three seedTiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Thunder clinchedTiebreaker vs. Wolves: Wolves currently own via division record4. Los Angeles Clippers (51-28)
Clinched: Playoff spotTiebreaker vs. Mavericks: Clippers clinched5. Dallas Mavericks (49-30)Clinched: Playoff spotTiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers clinchedTiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Dallas currently owns via division win percentage6. New Orleans Pelicans (47-32)Magic Number: Playoff spot (3)Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Pelicans have clinchedTiebreaker vs. Suns: Suns have clinchedTiebreaker vs. Dallas: Dallas currently owns via division win percentagePLAY-IN TOURNAMENT7. Phoenix Suns (46-33)
Tiebreaker vs. New Orleans: Suns clinchedTiebreaker vs. Kings: Tied 2-2 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Dallas: Mavs clinchedTiebreaker vs. Warriors: Suns clinchedTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Lakers clinched8. Sacramento Kings (45-34)
Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Tied 2-2 with one to playTiebreaker vs. Warriors: Kings lead via division recordTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Kings have clinched9. Los Angeles Lakers (45-35)Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Warriors clinchedTiebreaker vs. Suns: Lakers clinchedTiebreaker vs. Kings: Kings clinched10. Golden State Warriors (44-35)
Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Kings lead via division recordTiebreaker vs. Suns: Suns clinchedTiebreaker vs. Lakers: Warriors clinchedEASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
1. Boston Celtics (62-17)Clinched: NBA's best record2. Milwaukee Bucks (48-31)Clinched: Playoff spotMagic Number: Top-four seed (3)Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Bucks clinchedTiebreaker vs. Cavs: Bucks lead via division leaderTiebreaker vs. Magic: Tied 1-1 with two to play3. New York Knicks (47-32)Magic Number: Playoff spot (1)Tiebreaker vs. Bucks: Bucks clinchedTiebreaker vs. Cavs: Knicks clinchedTiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic clinched4. Orlando Magic (46-33)
Magic Number: Playoff spot (2)Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Magic currently own via division leaderTiebreaker vs. Knicks: Magic clinchedTiebreaker vs. Pacers: Magic clinchedTiebreaker vs. Milwaukee: Tied 1-1 with two to play5. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-33)Clinched: Play-In spotMagic Number: Playoff spot (2)Tiebreaker vs. Bucks: Bucks lead via division leaderTiebreaker vs. Knicks: Knicks clinchedTiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic currently own via division leader6. Indiana Pacers (46-34)Magic Number: Playoff spot (2)Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic clinchedTiebreaker vs. Heat: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. 76ers: Pacers clinchedPLAY-IN TOURNAMENT7. Philadelphia 76ers (45-35)Tiebreaker vs. Pacers: Pacers clinchedTiebreaker vs. Heat: Miami leads via conference record8. Miami Heat (44-35)
Tiebreaker vs. Pacers: Tied 1-1 with one to playTiebreaker vs. 76ers: Miami leads via conference record9. Chicago Bulls (37-42)Tiebreaker vs. Hawks: Bulls clinched10. Atlanta Hawks (36-43)Tiebreaker vs. Bulls: Bulls clinched
NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket: Warriors gain leg up on Lakers; Clippers, Mavs clinch playoff spots
NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket: Warriors gain leg up on Lakers; Clippers, Mavs clinch playoff spots
NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket: Warriors gain leg up on Lakers; Clippers, Mavs clinch playoff spots
NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket: Warriors gain leg up on Lakers; Clippers, Mavs clinch playoff spots
NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket: Warriors gain leg up on Lakers; Clippers, Mavs clinch playoff spots
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