The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 13. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, strength of schedule, relevant tiebreakers and the stakes for every day’s slate of games.
Click here for the Eastern Conference.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-14)
• Clinched No. 1 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 8 seed (determined by play-in tournament)
2. Houston Rockets (52-27)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 5.6
• Magic number for No. 2 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @LAC, @LAL, DEN
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 3)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (48-30)
• Net rating: 1.3
• Magic number for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @OKC, @DAL, HOU, @POR
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
4. Denver Nuggets (47-32)
• Net rating: 3.6
• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @SAC, MEM, @HOU
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
5. Los Angeles Clippers (46-32)
• Net rating: 4.8
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: SAS, HOU, @SAC, @GSW
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
6. Golden State Warriors (46-32)
• Net rating: 2.8
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: @PHX, SAS, @POR, LAC
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32)
• Net rating: 4.6
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: @MIL, @MEM, BKN, UTA
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
8. Memphis Grizzlies (46-32)
• Net rating: 4.5
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: @CHA, MIN, @DEN, DAL
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
9. Sacramento Kings (38-40)
• Net rating: 0.5
• Magic number for top-10 seed: 2
• Remaining schedule: @DET, DEN, LAC, PHX
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
10. Dallas Mavericks (38-41)
• Net rating: -1.0
• Magic number for top-10 seed: 2
• Remaining schedule: LAL, TOR, @MEM
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
11. Phoenix Suns (35-43)
• Net rating: -2.6
• Magic number for top-10 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: GSW, OKC, SAS, @SAC
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
Monday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
• Kings at Pistons (7 p.m., NBA TV)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (62-16)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 9.4
• Magic number for No. 1 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: CHI, @IND, @NYK, IND
• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 2)
2. Boston Celtics (58-20)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 9.5
• Magic number for No. 1 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: @NYK, @ORL, CHA, CHA
• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 2)
3. New York Knicks (50-28)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 4.3
• Magic number for No. 3 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: BOS, @DET, CLE, @BKN
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 4)
4. Indiana Pacers (47-31)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 2.2
• Magic number for No. 4 seed: 2
• Remaining schedule: WAS, CLE, ORL, @CLE
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 5)
5. Milwaukee Bucks (44-34)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 1.9
• Magic number for No. 5 seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: MIN, NOP, @DET, DET
• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 6)
6. Detroit Pistons (43-35)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 2.3
• Magic number for No. 5 seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: SAC, NYK, MIL, @MIL
• Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 6)
7. Orlando Magic (38-40)
• Net rating: -0.5
• Magic number for top-eight seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: ATL, BOS, @IND, @ATL
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
8. Atlanta Hawks (37-41)
• Net rating: -1.7
• Magic number for top-eight seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @ORL, @BKN, @PHI, ORL
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
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9. Chicago Bulls (36-42)
• Net rating: -2.1
• Magic number for No. 9 seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @CLE, MIA, WAS, @PHI
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
10. Miami Heat (35-43)
• Net rating: -0.2
• Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: PHI, @CHI, @NOP, WAS
• Highest possible finish: No. 8 (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Monday’s games of consequence (all times Eastern)
• Kings at Pistons (7 p.m., NBA TV)
• 76ers at Heat (7:30 p.m.)
