Jump to: Western Conference
EASTERN CONFERENCE
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, in some order, appear headed for the top four playoff spots and home-field advantage in the first round. The Pistons, who hold a five-game lead over the Celtics and Knicks, are almost certain to capture first place in the East, barring a complete collapse in the absence of the injured Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung).
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Who exactly those four teams will play in the first round is completely up for grabs, as just two wins separate the fifth seed from the 10th seed. The Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat are vying for position in the final stretch of a season that has surpassed 70 games.
Technically, the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls are still alive for postseason contention, although they’re locked in a different kind of race: one by lottery odds.
On the way to the playoffs, the classification is to be determined
Record: 52-19 | Net rating: 8.0 (2nd)
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Remaining schedule: ATL, NOP, @MIN, @OKC, TOR, MIN, @PHI, @ORL, MIL, @CHA, @IND
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Highest possible finish: Seed number 1
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 4
What is at stake: The number one seed and home field advantage during the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Fighting for a guaranteed playoff spot
Record: (47-24) | Net rating: 7.8 (3rd)
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Magic number for second place: 11
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Remaining schedule: OKC, ATL, @CHA, @ATL, @MIA, @MIL, TOR, CHA, @NYK, NOP, ORL
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Highest possible finish: Seed number 1
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 10
What is at stake: Second place and home field advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Record: 48-25 | Net rating: 6.8 (5th)
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Magic number for third place: 8
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Remaining schedule: @CHA, @OKC, @HOU, @MEM, CHI, @ATL, BOS, TOR, CHA
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Highest possible finish: Seed number 1
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 8
What is at stake: Second place and home field advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Record: 45-27 | Net rating: 4.3 (8th)
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Magic number for position number 4: 7
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Remaining schedule: MIA, MIA, @UTA, @LAL, @GSW, IND, @MEM, ATL, @ATL, ERA
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Highest possible finish: Seed number 1
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 10
What is at stake: The No. 4 seed and home field advantage in the first round.
Record: 40-31 | Net rating: 2.0 (12th)
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Magic number for fifth place: 11
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Remaining schedule: @LAC, NOP, ORL, @DET, SAC, @MEM, @BOS, MIA, MIA, @NYK, BKN
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Highest possible finish: seed number 2
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 10
What is at stake: The number 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot.
Record: 40-32 | Net rating: 1.7 (13)
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Magic number for position number 6: 9
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Remaining schedule: @DET, @BOS, SAC, BOS, @ORL, @BKN, NYK, @CLE, CLE, @MIA
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Highest possible finish: seed number 2
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Lowest possible finish: Out of the postseason
What is at stake: The number 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot.
Record: 39-33 | Net rating: -0.8 (19th)
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Magic number for seventh place: 10
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Remaining schedule: CHI, @CHA, @MIA, @WAS, MIN, DET, @SAS, @HOU, @IND, MIL
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Highest possible finish: seed number 2
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Lowest possible finish: Out of the postseason
What is at stake: The number 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot.
Record: 38-34 | Net rating: 0.7 (17th)
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Magic number for eighth place: Not controlling one’s own destiny
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Remaining schedule: SAC, @TOR, PHX, ATL, @DAL, @NOP, DET, MIN, @CHI, @BOS
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Highest possible finish: seed number 3
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Lowest possible finish: Out of the postseason
What is at stake: The number 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot.
Record: 38-34 | Net rating: 4.7 (6th)
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Magic number for ninth place: 10
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Remaining schedule: NYK, PHI, BOS, @BKN, PHX, IND, @MIN, @BOS, DET, @NYK
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Highest possible finish: seed number 3
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Lowest possible finish: Out of the postseason
What is at stake: The number 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot.
Record: 38-34 | Net rating: 2.4 (11th)
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Magic number for position number 10: 3
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Remaining schedule: @CLE, @CLE, @IND, PHI, BOS, ERA, @TOR, @TOR, @WAS, ATL
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Highest possible finish: seed number 2
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Lowest possible finish: Out of the postseason
What is at stake: The number 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot.
Still technically alive
Record: 29-42 | Net rating: -5.5 (25)
Record: 29-42 | Net rating: -4.3 (23)
What is at stake: The team that finishes with a worse record will receive a 20.3% chance of getting a top-four pick and a 4.5% chance of getting the No. 1 pick. And the team that finishes with a better record will have a 13.9% chance of getting a top-four pick and a 3% chance of getting No. 1.
However, if the Bucks ultimately land the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery, or any pick higher than the New Orleans Pelicans, it will be passed down to the Hawks.
Wednesday’s Big Games (All Eastern Time)
Hawks at Pistons, 7 p.m.
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Bulls at 76ers, 7 p.m.
Thunder against the Celtics, 7:30 p.m.
Heat at Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m.
Bucks at Blazers, 10 p.m.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
In the west, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are targeted for the top two spots, with OKC maintaining a sizable lead for the league’s No. 1 overall spot.
The Los Angeles Lakers, with their recent nine-game winning streak, became heavy favorites to capture third place in the conference. Beyond them, no one knows.
Zero losses separate the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, who are almost guaranteed the last three guaranteed playoff spots in the West. Only one of those three teams will get home field advantage in the first round.
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The conference play-in tournament field is also almost ready. The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors appear headed for No. 7 and No. 10, respectively. And the LA Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers will face each other for spots 8 and 9.
On the way to the playoffs, the classification is to be determined
Record: 57-15 | Net rating: 11.1 (1st)
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Remaining schedule: @BOS, CHI, NYK, DET, LAL, UTA, @LAL, @LAC, @DEN, PHX
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Highest possible finish: Seed number 1
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 2
What is at stake: The No. 1 seed and home field advantage during the playoffs.
Record: 54-18 | Net rating: 7.7 (4th)
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Magic number for second place: 2
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Remaining schedule: @MEM, @MIL, CHI, @GSW, @LAC, @DEN, PHI, POR, DAL, DEN
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Highest possible finish: Seed number 1
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 4
What is at stake: Second place and home field advantage in the Western Conference semifinals.
Fighting for a guaranteed playoff spot
Record: 46-26 | Net rating: 1.2 (14)
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Magic number for third place: 8
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Remaining schedule: @IND, BKN, ERA, CLE, @OKC, @DAL, OKC, @GSW, PHX, UTA
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Highest possible finish: seed number 2
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 8
What is at stake: Third place and home field advantage in the first round.
Record: 45-28 | Net rating: 4.4 (7th)
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Magic number for position number 4: 9
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Remaining schedule: DAL, UTA, GSW, @UTA, SAS, POR, MEM, OKC, @SAS
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Highest possible finish: seed number 2
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 8
What is at stake: The No. 4 seed and home field advantage in the first round.
Record: 44-28 | Net rating: 3.6 (tenth)
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Magic number for fifth place: 10
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Remaining schedule: HOU, DET, @DAL, @DET, @PHI, CHA, @IND, @ORL, @HOU, NOP
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Highest possible finish: seed number 2
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 9
What is at stake: The No. 4 seed and home field advantage in the first round.
Record: 43-28 | Net rating: 4.0 (9th)
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Magic number for position number 6: 7
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Remaining schedule: @MIN, @MEM, @NOP, NYK, MIL, UTA, @GSW, @PHX, PHI, MIN, MIN
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Highest possible finish: seed number 3
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 10
What is at stake: The No. 4 seed and home field advantage in the first round.
Record: 40-33 | Net rating: 1.0 (15º)
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Magic number for seventh place: 7
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Remaining schedule: UTA, @MEM, @ORL, @CHA, @CHI, HOU, DAL, @LAL, @OKC
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Highest possible finish: seed number 3
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 10
What is at stake: The No. 7 seed and home field advantage against the No. 8 seed in their first play-in tournament match.
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Record: 36-36 | Net rating: 1.0 (16)
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Magic number for eighth place: 9
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Remaining schedule: TOR, @IND, @MIL, POR, SAS, @SAC, DAL, OKC, @POR, GSW
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Highest possible finish: seed number 3
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 10
What is at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff spot.
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Magic number for ninth place: 9
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Remaining schedule: MIL, DAL, ERA, @LAC, NOP, @DEN, @SAS, LAC, SAC
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Highest possible finish: seed number 5
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Lowest possible finish: seed number 10
What is at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff spot.
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Magic number for position number 10: 3
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Remaining schedule: @DAL, BKN, ERA, @DEN, SAS, CLE, HOU, SAC, LAL, @SAC, @LAC
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Highest possible finish: seed number 6
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Lowest possible finish: Out of the postseason
What is at stake: 10th place and a spot in the play-in tournament.
Still technically alive
Record: 24-47 | Net rating: -3.8 (22)
What is at stake: Lottery Odds!
Wednesday’s Big Games (All Eastern Time)
Lakers vs. Pacers, 7 p.m.
Thunder against the Celtics, 7:30 p.m.
Spurs at Grizzlies, 8 p.m.
MEM is eliminated from the postseason with a loss or a GSW victory
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Rockets at Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m.
Mavericks vs. Nuggets, 10:00 p.m.
Nets against Warriors, 10:00 p.m.
GSW is stuck in the play-in tournament with one loss, one MEM loss and one HOU win
Bucks at Blazers, 10 p.m.
Raptors vs Clippers, 10:30 p.m.