NBA Playoff Picture 2024: Latest Play-in Bracket, Seeding Scenarios for Last Day
April 13, 2024
With just two days remaining in the NBA's regular season, the playoff picture is coming together, but there are still several different seeding possibilities heading into the final weekend.
Ahead of Sunday's season finale, here's a look at the remaining playoff seed possibilities and current standings.
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In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets are still locked in a three-way tie for first place. According to NBA Communications, this will be the first time in league history that three teams all have the same record and the chance to earn the No. 1 seed through 81 games.
If all three teams win on Sunday, the Thunder will get the top seed, as is the case if all three teams lose. For the Nuggets to get the top seed, they will need both Oklahoma City and Minnesota to lose. The Timberwolves need just one of Denver or Oklahoma City to lose to earn the No. 1 seed.
Things are less complicated for the Los Angeles Clippers, who will be the No. 4 seed, and the Dallas Mavericks, who have already earned the No. 5 seed.
Looking further down in the standings, the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans are fighting for the No. 6 seed to avoid a play-in tournament appearance, while the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors are looking to establish their play-in tournament positions.
With the current standings here's a look at what the play-in tournament bracket would be in the West.
Western Conference Play-In Tournament
- No. 7 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers
- No. 9 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 10 Golden State Warriors
The No. 1 seed has long been decided in the Eastern Conference with the Boston Celtics 14 games ahead of the rest of the group, but the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are still in a fight for the No. 2 seed.
The No. 5 seed could go to one of four teams after the final day of play as the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat all sit within a game apart from each other. Two of those four teams will be looking at a play-in tournament appearance along with the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, who have already established themselves as the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds, respectively.
If the current standings hold, here is how the play-in tournament would look in the East.
Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament
- No. 7 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 8 Miami Heat
- No. 9 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 10 Atlanta Hawks
We are still a week away from the start of the actual playoffs, but the drama has already started as teams look to establish their playoff positions. While Sunday's games might not have the same intensity as the Finals, teams will be bringing their A-game to pick up crucial wins.