The NBA playoff picture will soon become clear. In the meantime, here’s the landscape, including magic numbers, remaining schedules, relevant tiebreakers and the stakes for the final slate of games.
Click here for the Eastern Conference.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (67-14)
• Clinched No. 1 seed
• First-round opponent: No. 8 seed (DEN, LAC, GSW, MIN, MEM, SAC or DAL)
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2. Houston Rockets (52-29)
• Clinched No. 2 seed
• First-round opponent: No. 7 seed (DEN, LAC, GSW, MIN or MEM)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (50-31)
• Clinched No. 3 seed
• First-round opponent: No. 6 seed (DEN, GSW or MIN)
Battling for guaranteed playoff spot
4. Denver Nuggets (49-32)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @HOU
• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Tiebreakers won: GSW (2-1)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round; avoiding play-in tournament
5. Los Angeles Clippers (49-32)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @GSW
• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Tiebreakers won: GSW (3-0), MEM (3-0)
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What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round; avoiding play-in tournament
6. Golden State Warriors (48-33)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: LAC
• Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Tiebreakers won: MIN (3-1), MEM (3-1)
What’s at stake: Avoiding play-in tournament
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (48-33)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: UTA
• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers won: LAC (3-0), DEN (4-0)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in first round; avoiding play-in tournament
Play-in bound, seeding to be determined
8. Memphis Grizzlies (47-34)
• Magic number for No. 7 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: DAL
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers won: MIN (2-1)
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What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in 7/8 play-in game
9. Sacramento Kings (39-42)
• Magic number for No. 9 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: PHX
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
• Tiebreakers won: DAL (3-0)
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. DAL
10. Dallas Mavericks (39-42)
• Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: @MEM
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. SAC
Sunday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
Nuggets at Rockets (3:30 p.m.)
DEN is No. 4 seed with a win
DEN is No. 5 seed with a loss and LAC win and MIN loss
DEN is No. 6 seed with a loss and LAC win and MIN win
DEN is No. 7 seed with a loss and GSW win and MIN win
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Jazz at Timberwolves (3:30 p.m.)
MIN is No. 4 seed with a win and DEN loss and LAC loss
MIN is No. 5 seed with a win and DEN loss and LAC win
MIN is No. 5 seed with a win and DEN win and LAC loss
MIN is No. 6 seed with a win and DEN win and LAC win
MIN is No. 7 seed with a loss and MEM loss
MIN is No. 8 seed with a loss and MEM win
Mavericks at Grizzlies (3:30 p.m.)
DAL is No. 9 seed with a win and SAC loss
DAL is No. 10 seed with a loss or SAC win
MEM is No. 7 seed with a win and MIN loss
MEM is No. 8 seed with a loss or MIN win
Suns at Kings (3:30 p.m.)
SAC is No. 9 seed with a win or DAL loss
SAC is No. 10 seed with a loss and DAL win
Clippers at Warriors (3:30 p.m.)
LAC is the No. 4 seed with a win and DEN loss
LAC is the No. 5 seed with a win and DEN win
LAC is the No. 5 seed with a loss and DEN loss
LAC is the No. 7 seed with a loss and DEN win and MIN win
GSW is the No. 6 seed with a win or MIN loss
GSW is the No. 7 seed with a loss and MIN win
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (64-17)
• Clinched No. 1 seed
• First-round opponent: No. 8 seed (ORL, ATL, CHI or MIA)
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2. Boston Celtics (60-21)
• Clinched No. 2 seed
• First-round opponent: No. 7 seed (ORL or ATL)
3. New York Knicks (50-31)
• Clinched No. 3 seed
• First-round opponent: Pistons
4. Indiana Pacers (49-32)
• Clinched No. 4 seed
• First-round opponent: Bucks
5. Milwaukee Bucks (47-34)
• Clinched No. 5 seed
• First-round opponent: Pacers
6. Detroit Pistons (44-37)
• Clinched No. 6 seed
• First-round opponent: Knicks
Play-in bound, seeding locked
7. Orlando Magic (41-40)
• Clinched No. 7 seed
• Play-in opponent: Hawks
8. Atlanta Hawks (39-42)
• Clinched No. 8 seed
• Play-in opponent: Magic
9. Chicago Bulls (38-43)
• Clinched No. 9 seed
• Play-in opponent: Heat
10. Miami Heat (37-44)
• Clinched No. 10 seed
• Play-in opponent: Bulls
