2023 NBA Playoff Picture, Bracket: Updated standings, matchups, seeds

National Basketball Association

Updated
Mar. 25, 2023 10:47 a.m. ET

The race for one of the 16 spots in the 2023 NBA playoffs is coming down to the wire.

Here’s what the playoffs would look if the season ended today, March 25:

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Milwaukee Bucks* (Strength of schedule: 9th)2. Boston Celtics* (SOS: 16th) — 2.5 GB3. Philadelphia 76ers* (SOS: 1st) — 4 GB4. Cleveland Cavaliers (SOS: 30th) — 7 GB5. New York Knicks (SOS: 27th) — 12 GB6. Miami Heat (SOS: 22nd) — 13.5 GB 7. Brooklyn Nets (SOS: 29th) — 14 GB8. Atlanta Hawks (SOS: 2nd) — 17 GB9. Toronto Raptors (SOS: 4th) — 17.5 GB10. Chicago Bulls (SOS: 18th) — 18 GB

EASTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET

1. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in2. Boston Celtics vs. Winner of No. 7 seed play-in3. Philadelphia 76ers vs. 6. Miami Heat4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. New York Knicks

PLAY-IN GAMES

7. Brooklyn Nets vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks

Winner advances as the No. 7 seed; loser plays the winner of Raptors-Bulls for the No. 8 seed.

9. Toronto Raptors vs. 10. Chicago Bulls

Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Nets-Hawks for the No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated from the play-in tournament.

ON THE BUBBLE

11. Indiana Pacers (SOS: 13th) — 20.5 GB12. Washington Wizards (SOS: 12th) — 20.5 GB13. Orlando Magic (SOS: 11th) — 22.5 GB

DISQUALIFIED FROM POSTSEASON

14. Charlotte Hornets15. Detroit Pistons

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Denver Nuggets** (SOS: 5th)2. Memphis Grizzlies** (SOS: 15th) — 3 GB3. Sacramento Kings (SOS: 23rd) — 5 GB4. LA Clippers (SOS: 10th) — 10.5 GB5. Phoenix Suns (SOS: 8th) — 11 GB6. Golden State Warriors (SOS: 17th) — 11 GB7. Minnesota Timberwolves (SOS: 21st) — 12.5 GB8. Los Angeles Lakers (SOS: 26th) — 12.5 GB9. New Orleans Pelicans (SOS: 3rd) — 13 GB10. Oklahoma City Thunder (SOS: 28th) — 13.5 GB

WESTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET

1. Denver Nuggets vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in2. Memphis Grizzlies vs Winner of No. 7 seed play-in3. Sacramento Kings vs. 6. Golden State Warriors4. LA Clippers vs. 5.Phoenix Suns

PLAY-IN GAMES

7. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. 8. Los Angeles Lakers

Winner advances as the No. 7 seed; loser plays the winner of Pelicans-Thunder for the No. 8 seed.

9. New Orleans Pelicans vs. 10. Oklahoma City Thunder

Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Timberwolves-Lakers for the No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated from the play-in tournament.

ON THE BUBBLE

11. Dallas Mavericks (SOS: 24th) — 13.5 GB12. Utah Jazz (SOS: 7th) — 14 GB13. Portland Trail Blazers (SOS: 14th) — 17 GB

DISQUALIFIED FROM POSTSEASON

14. San Antonio Spurs 15. Houston Rockets

*Clinched playoff berth**Clinched division

When do the 2023 NBA playoffs start?

The NBA playoffs start with the play-in tournament, which runs between April 11-14. Following that, the first round of the playoffs start on April 15. Play will continue until the NBA Finals begin on June 1.

How many teams make NBA playoffs?

Historically, 16 teams (the eight teams with the best records in each conference) comprise the NBA playoff teams. With the play-in tournament, four extra teams earn the chance play their way into the postseason.