NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket, matchups: Knicks clinch top six, Nuggets jump Wolves for No. 1 seed

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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 have qualified for the postseason, but plenty of seeding is still up for grabs. Eight teams have clinched a top-six seed so far. 

On Wednesday, the New York Knicks joined that list via Miami's loss to the Mavericks, who have also sealed their top-six spot in the West. The Warriors and Lakers are officially locked into the Play-in tourney with Phoenix's win over the Clippers, though their seeds are still TBD. 

Also on Wednesday, the Denver Nuggets took over the West's No. 1 seed with their win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who turn their attention to holding off the Thunder for the No. 2 seed. Currently, the Wolves own that spot via a better conference record than OKC. Denver's magic number for the No. 1 seed is two with two games remaining against Memphis and San Antonio. 

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) Nuggets vs. (8) Suns/Kings/Lakers/Warriors
(2) Timberwolves 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) Cavaliers vs. (5) Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS1. Denver Nuggets (56-24)
Clinched: Top-three seedMagic number: No. 1 seed (2)Tiebreaker vs. Thunder: Thunder clinchedTiebreaker vs. Wolves: Wolves clinched2. Minnesota Timberwolves (55-25)Clinched: Top-three seedTiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Wolves clinchedTiebreaker vs. Thunder: Wolves currently own via division record3. Oklahoma City Thunder (55-25)Clinched: Top-three seedTiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Thunder clinchedTiebreaker vs. Wolves: Wolves currently own via division record4. Los Angeles Clippers (51-29)
Clinched: Playoff spotTiebreaker vs. Mavericks: Clippers clinched5. Dallas Mavericks (50-30)Clinched: Playoff spotTiebreaker vs. Clippers: Clippers clinched6. New Orleans Pelicans (47-32)Magic Number: Playoff spot (3)Tiebreaker vs. Kings: Pelicans have clinchedTiebreaker vs. Suns: Suns have clinchedPLAY-IN TOURNAMENT7. Phoenix Suns (47-33)
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 (49-31)Clinched: Playoff spotTiebreaker 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)Clinched: Playoff spotTiebreaker vs. Bucks: Bucks clinchedTiebreaker vs. Cavs: Knicks clinchedTiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic clinched4. Cleveland Cavaliers (47-33)Clinched: Play-In spotMagic Number: Playoff spot (1)Tiebreaker vs. Bucks: Bucks lead via division leaderTiebreaker vs. Knicks: Knicks clinchedTiebreaker vs. Magic: Magic currently own via division leader5. Orlando Magic (46-34)
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 play6. Indiana Pacers (46-34)Magic Number: Playoff spot (1)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 (44-36)
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 (36-44)Tiebreaker vs. Bulls: Bulls clinched

NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket, matchups: Knicks clinch top six, Nuggets jump Wolves for No. 1 seed

NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket, matchups: Knicks clinch top six, Nuggets jump Wolves for No. 1 seed

NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket, matchups: Knicks clinch top six, Nuggets jump Wolves for No. 1 seed

NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket, matchups: Knicks clinch top six, Nuggets jump Wolves for No. 1 seed

NBA playoff picture, standings, bracket, matchups: Knicks clinch top six, Nuggets jump Wolves for No. 1 seed