NBA standings, playoff picture: Current bracket, tiebreakers as Celtics clinch top-2 seed, Pacers seal Play-in

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The NBA playoffs are almost here. Less than a month remains in the regular season, with the postseason set to begin on April 16 with the Play-In Tournament. The playoffs get started April 20. While it seems likely we know the 20 NBA teams that are going to qualify for the postseason, there is plenty to be decided in the regular season’s closing weeks. Seeding, home-court advantage and the chance to avoid the Play-In Tournament are all on the line between now and April 14.

So what’s the latest in the NBA’s playoff picture? The Indiana Pacers clinched at least a Play-In berth with a win over the Warriors on Friday. For Golden State, the loss leaves them just two up on the Rockets in the loss column for the final West Play-In spot. 

The Celtics, who defeated Detroit on Friday, have clinched a top-two seed in the East and have a magic number of three to clinch the No. 1 seed. 

As a reminder, the NBA’s Play-In Tournament will determine the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in both conferences. Four teams in each conference (the 7-10 seeds) will enter the Play-In Tournament, while the top six seeds will automatically qualify for playoff spots. The seventh- and eighth-placed teams will face each other for the No. 7 seed. The ninth- and 10th-placed teams will face each other in another game, and then the loser of the No. 7/No. 8 game will face the winner of the No. 9/No. 10 game for the No. 8 seed.

For the remainder of the season, this will be your one-stop shop playoff picture. We’ve got you covered on everything from the current standings to tiebreaker scenarios and magic numbers for both play-in spots and top-six seeds. 

Here’s where we stand entering play on Wednesday, March 20.

Playoff bracket if the season ended today…

West
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Suns/Kings/Lakers/Warriors
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Suns/Kings
(3) Timberwolves vs. (6) Mavericks
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Pelicans

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-standings-playoff-picture-current-bracket-tiebreakers-as-celtics-clinch-top-2-seed-pacers-seal-play-in/

Author : Brad Botkin

Publish date : 2024-03-23 15:24:15

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