The NBA playoff image will come into clearer view every day between now and the tip of the common season on Sunday. Within the meantime, we are going to present detailed each day updates on the panorama, together with magic numbers, remaining schedules, related tiebreakers and the stakes for every day’s 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)
Commercial
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 assured playoff spot
4. Denver Nuggets (49-32)
• Magic quantity for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @HOU
• Highest potential end: No. 4 seed
• Lowest potential end: No. 7 seed
• Tiebreakers gained: GSW (2-1)
What’s at stake: Residence-court benefit in first spherical; avoiding play-in event
5. Los Angeles Clippers (49-32)
• Magic quantity for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @GSW
• Highest potential end: No. 4 seed
• Lowest potential end: No. 7 seed
• Tiebreakers gained: GSW (3-0), MEM (3-0)
Commercial
What’s at stake: Residence-court benefit in first spherical; avoiding play-in event
6. Golden State Warriors (48-33)
• Magic quantity for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: LAC
• Highest potential end: No. 6 seed
• Lowest potential end: No. 7 seed
• Tiebreakers gained: MIN (3-1), MEM (3-1)
What’s at stake: Avoiding play-in event
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (48-33)
• Magic quantity for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: UTA
• Highest potential end: No. 4 seed
• Lowest potential end: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers gained: LAC (3-0), DEN (4-0)
What’s at stake: Residence-court benefit in first spherical; avoiding play-in event
Play-in sure, seeding to be decided
8. Memphis Grizzlies (47-34)
• Magic quantity for No. 7 seed: Don’t management personal future
• Remaining schedule: DAL
• Highest potential end: No. 7 seed
• Lowest potential end: No. 8 seed
• Tiebreakers gained: MIN (2-1)
Commercial
What’s at stake: Residence-court benefit in 7/8 play-in sport
9. Sacramento Kings (39-42)
• Magic quantity for No. 9 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: PHX
• Highest potential end: No. 9 seed
• Lowest potential end: No. 10 seed
• Tiebreakers gained: DAL (3-0)
What’s at stake: Residence-court benefit in 9/10 play-in sport vs. DAL
10. Dallas Mavericks (39-42)
• Magic quantity for No. 9 seed: Don’t management personal future
• Remaining schedule: @MEM
• Highest potential end: No. 9 seed
• Lowest potential end: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: Residence-court benefit in 9/10 play-in sport vs. SAC
Sunday’s video games of consequence (all occasions Japanese)
• Nuggets at Rockets (3:30 p.m.)
Commercial
• Jazz at Timberwolves (3:30 p.m.)
• Mavericks at Grizzlies (3:30 p.m.)
• Suns at Kings (3:30 p.m.)
• Clippers at Warriors (3:30 p.m.)
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)
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
Commercial
6. Detroit Pistons (44-37)
• Clinched No. 6 seed
• First-round opponent: Knicks
Play-in sure, 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: Warmth
10. Miami Heat (37-44)
• Clinched No. 10 seed
• Play-in opponent: Bulls
