The main point: The NBA regular season is wrapping up this Sunday, but the playoff picture is still up in the air. While 20 teams have secured a spot in the postseason, only three have solidified their rankings. Get ready for an exciting weekend of basketball!
Here’s how the playoffs work: The top six teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences move on to the official first round. Teams seeded seventh to tenth will compete in the Play-In Tournament for the last two playoff berths in each conference.
In the Play-In, the seventh seed plays the eighth seed, while the ninth seed faces the tenth seed. The winner of the seventh vs. eighth game clinches the seventh seed, but the loser gets another chance against the winner of the ninth vs. tenth game for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Eastern Conference (EC): The Boston Celtics lead the pack as the number one seed, with the battle for spots two to eight heating up. The Milwaukee Bucks in second place are facing challenges with Giannis Antetokounmpo out due to injury, while the NY Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are making their push.
The return of Joel Embiid has boosted the Philadelphia 76ers’ chances of avoiding the Play-In, unlike the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks who secured the ninth and tenth spots recently.
Western Conference (WC): The Denver Nuggets are the current leaders in the West, but the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder are not far behind and could potentially take the top seed before the weekend ends.
The LA Clippers in fourth and the Dallas Mavericks in fifth may switch places, but they are set to meet in the first round. In the West Play-In, the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and LA Lakers are set, while the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns are neck and neck for the sixth seed.
