LDN - Sports

NBA playoff picture

[April 10, 2018] A look at the NBA playoff picture heading into the Tuesday night games:

Playoff format -- The top eight teams from each conference make the postseason. (x-clinched playoff berth; z-clinched top record in conference)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. z-Toronto Raptors, 59-22, leaders, one game remaining (at Miami on Wednesday)

2. x-Boston Celtics, 54-26, 4 1/2 games back, two games remaining (at Washington on Tuesday, vs. Brooklyn on Wednesday)

3. x-Philadelphia 76ers, 50-30, 8 1/2 games back, two games remaining (at Atlanta on Tuesday, vs. Milwaukee on Wednesday)

4. x-Cleveland Cavaliers, 50-31, nine games back, one game remaining (vs. New York on Wednesday)

5. x-Indiana Pacers, 48-33, 11 games back, one game remaining (vs. Charlotte on Tuesday)

6. x-Milwaukee Bucks, 44-37, 15 games back, one game remaining (at Philadelphia on Wednesday)

7. x-Miami Heat, 43-38, 16 games back, one game remaining (vs. Toronto on Wednesday)

8. x-Washington Wizards, 42-38, 16 1/2 games back, two games remaining (vs. Boston on Tuesday, at Orlando on Wednesday)

The top two seeds are set. The Cavaliers would get the No. 3 seed if they finish tied with the 76ers, as Cleveland is a division champion (the second tiebreaker after head-to-head results). The Pacers are locked in at No. 5. Miami, Milwaukee and Washington all still could finish sixth, seventh or eighth.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. z-Houston Rockets, 64-16, leaders, two games remaining (at L.A. Lakers on Tuesday, at Sacramento on Wednesday)

2. x-Golden State Warriors, 58-23, 6 1/2 games back, one game remaining (at Utah on Tuesday)

3. x-Portland Trail Blazers, 48-33, 16 1/2 games back, one game remaining (vs. Utah on Wednesday)

4. x-Utah Jazz, 47-33, 17 games back, two games remaining (vs. Golden State on Tuesday, at Portland on Wednesday)

T5. x-New Orleans Pelicans, 47-34, 17 1/2 games back, one game remaining (vs. San Antonio on Wednesday)

T5. x-San Antonio Spurs, 47-34, 17 1/2 games back, one game remaining (at New Orleans on Wednesday)

[to top of second column]

T5. x-Oklahoma City Thunder, 47-34, 17 1/2 games back, one game remaining (vs. Memphis on Wednesday)

T8. Minnesota Timberwolves, 46-35, 18 1/2 games back, two games remaining (vs. Denver on Wednesday)

T8. Denver Nuggets, 46-35, 18 1/2 games back, two games remaining (at Minnesota on Wednesday)

As in the East, the first two seeds are settled. The Jazz would hold the tiebreaker over the Trail Blazers if Utah wins the clubs' head-to-head finale. The Timberwolves and Nuggets conclude the regular season with a head-to-head matchup that will settle the final playoff berth. Seeding for No. 3 through No. 7 could wind up being settled deep down the NBA's list of tiebreaker scenarios.

TUESDAY GAMES (all times ET):

Charlotte at Indiana, 7 p.m. -- Nothing on the line for either team with the Pacers settled into fifth place in the East.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. -- If the 76ers can get past the Hawks, Philadelphia would be in line to wrap up the East's No. 3 seed with a win over visiting Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Boston at Washington, 8 p.m. -- The game only matters for the Wizards, who still could climb to No. 6 or No. 7 in the East with two wins to close the season. However, if Miami and Milwaukee both win on Wednesday, none of Washington's remaining results will matter, and the Wizards will be the No. 8 seed. The Boston-Washington contest could be a first-round playoff preview.

Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. -- The Mavericks are in a tight battle to wind with the league's third-worst record, above only the Suns and the Grizzlies.

Golden State at Utah, 9 p.m. -- With wins Tuesday over the banged-up and semi-interested Warriors and then Wednesday against the motivated Trail Blazers, the Jazz would clinch the West's No. 3 seed.

Houston at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. -- The league-best Rockets have little incentive beyond improving on their 2-2 record the past four games after they went 28-1 in the previous 29 games.

--Field Level Media

Back to top