National Basketball Association
Updated
Mar. 18, 2023 11:09 a.m. EDT
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 18:
EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
1. Milwaukee Bucks* (Strength of schedule: .496, T-16th)2. Boston Celtics (SOS: .509, 10th)3. Philadelphia 76ers (SOS: .546, 2nd)4. Cleveland Cavaliers (SOS: .445, 30th)5. New York Knicks (SOS: .487, 22nd)6. Brooklyn Nets (SOS: .490, 21st)7. Miami Heat (SOS: .468, 27th)8. Atlanta Hawks (SOS: .501, 14th)9. Toronto Raptors (SOS: .521, 7th)10. Chicago Bulls (SOS: .513, 9th)
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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. Brooklyn Nets4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. New York Knicks
PLAY-IN GAMES
7. Miami Heat vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks
Winner advances as the No. 7 seed; loser plays the winner of Raptors-Wizards for the No. 8 seed.
9. Toronto Raptors vs. 10. Chicago Bulls
Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Heat-Hawks for the No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated from the play-in tournament.
ON THE BUBBLE
11. Indiana Pacers: 32-38 (SOS: .530, 5th)12. Washington Wizards: 32-38 (SOS: .508, 11th)13. Orlando Magic: 28-42 (SOS: .518, 8th)
DISQUALIFIED FROM POSTSEASON
14. Charlotte Hornets15. Detroit Pistons
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
1. Denver Nuggets (SOS: .533, 4th)2. Sacramento Kings (SOS: .496, T-16th) 3. Memphis Grizzlies (SOS: .467, T-28th)4. Phoenix Suns (SOS: .526, 6th)5. LA Clippers (SOS: .492, 19th) 6. Dallas Mavericks (SOS: .474, 25th)7. Golden State Warriors (SOS: .498, 15th)8. Minnesota Timberwolves (SOS: .494, 18th) 9. Oklahoma City Thunder (SOS: .470, 26th)10. Los Angeles Lakers (SOS: .467, T-28th)
WESTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET
1. Denver Nuggets vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in2. Sacramento Kings vs Winner of No. 7 seed play-in3. Memphis Grizzlies vs. 6. Dallas Mavericks4. Phoenix Suns vs. 5.LA Clippers
PLAY-IN GAMES
7. Golden State Warriors vs. 8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Winner advances as the No. 7 seed; loser plays the winner of Thunder-Lakers for the No. 8 seed.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 10. Los Angeles Lakers
Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Timberwolves-Mavericks for the No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated from the play-in tournament.
ON THE BUBBLE
11. Utah Jazz (SOS: .556, 1st)12. New Orleans Pelicans (SOS: .482, 23rd)13. Portland Trail Blazers (SOS: .503, 13th)
DISQUALIFIED FROM POSTSEASON
14. Houston Rockets15. San Antonio SpursÂ
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.
*Clinched playoff berth
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