NBA standings, playoff picture: Current bracket, matchups, tiebreakers as Suns creep near playoff spot

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The NBA playoffs are almost here. Less than two weeks remain in the regular season, and the postseason is set to begin April 16 with the Play-In Tournament. The playoffs get started April 20. While we know most of the 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 Phoenix Suns defeated the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, and now trail New Orleans by just one game for the No. 6 seed. What’s more, the victory clinched the tiebreaker for the Suns, who are 2-0 vs. New Orleans this season with one matchup remaining on April 7. 

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 Monday, April 1.

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) Pelicans
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Mavericks

East
(1) Celtics vs. (8) Heat/76ers/Bulls/Hawks
(2) Bucks vs. (7) Heat/76ers
(3) Cavaliers vs. (6) Pacers
(4) Knicks vs. (5)…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-standings-playoff-picture-current-bracket-matchups-tiebreakers-as-suns-creep-creep-near-playoff-spot/

Author : Brad Botkin

Publish date : 2024-04-02 12:59:15

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