2024 NBA Playoffs: Bracket, standings, latest playoff picture as playoffs near
The NBA is nearing the end of the 2023-24 regular season, and while some teams have secured their playoff spots, others are still fighting for a chance to make the postseason.
The Boston Celtics are leading the Eastern Conference with a record of 59-16 and have already secured the regular season title. The Milwaukee Bucks are in second place, two games ahead of the Cavaliers. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in third place with a record of 45-30, while the New York Knicks are in fourth place with a record of 44-30.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder currently hold the top spot with a 52-22 record, while the Denver Nuggets are close behind with a 52-23 record. The Minnesota Timberwolves sit in third place and have a four-game lead over the fourth-placed Los Angeles Clippers.
Here's how the playoff picture currently looks with just two weeks left to play in the regular season.
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NBA playoff standings
Current after April 1 games. The top 6 teams in each conference automatically make the playoffs. Teams in positions 7-10 qualify for the play-in tournament.
Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Boston Celtics - c | 57-16 | -- |
| 2. | Milwaukee Bucks - x | 47-28 | 12.0 |
| 3. | Cleveland Cavaliers - x | 46-30 | 13.5 |
| 4. | Orlando Magic - x | 44-31 | 15.0 |
| 5. | New York Knicks - x | 44-31 | 15.0 |
| 6. | Indiana Pacers - x | 43-33 | 16.5 |
| 7. | Miami Heat - x | 42-33 | 17.5 |
| 8. | Philadelphia 76ers - x | 41-35 | 18.5 |
| 9. | Chicago Bulls | 36-40 | 23.5 |
| 10. | Atlanta Hawks | 35-40 | 24.0 |
| 11. | Brooklyn Nets | 29-47 | 30.5 |
| 12. | Toronto Raptors | 23-52 | 36.0 |
| 13. | Charlotte Hornets - o | 18-57 | 41.0 |
| 14. | Washington Wizards - o | 15-61 | 44.5 |
| 15. | Detroit Pistons - o | 13-62 | 46.0 |
Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Denver Nuggets - x | 53-23 | -- |
| 2. | Minnesota Timberwolves - x | 52-23 | 0.5 |
| 3. | Oklahoma City Thunder - x | 52-23 | 0.5 |
| 4. | Los Angeles Clippers | 47-28 | 5.5 |
| 5. | Dallas Mavericks | 45-30 | 7.5 |
| 6. | New Orleans Pelicans | 45-30 | 7.5 |
| 7. | Sacramento Kings | 44-31 | 8.5 |
| 8. | Phoenix Suns | 44-31 | 8.5 |
| 9. | Los Angeles Lakers | 43-33 | 10.0 |
| 10. | Golden State Warriors | 41-34 | 11.5 |
| 11. | Houston Rockets | 38-37 | 14.5 |
| 12. | Utah Jazz | 29-47 | 24.0 |
| 13. | Memphis Grizzlies - o | 25-50 | 27.5 |
| 14. | Portland Trail Blazers - o | 19-56 | 33.5 |
| 15. | San Antonio Spurs - o | 18-58 | 35.0 |
NBA Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here's how the first round of the playoffs would shake out in the East if the season ended after Monday.
- No. 1 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 seed (Winner of the Play-In Tournament)
- No. 2 seed Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 7 seed (Winner of the Play-In Tournament)
- No. 3 seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 6 seed Indiana Pacers
- No. 4 seed Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 seed New York Knicks
NBA Western Conference playoff bracket
Here's how the matchups look with the current standings in the Western Conference.
- No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets vs. No. 8 seed (Winner of the Play-In Tournament)
- No. 2 seed Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 7 seed (Winner of the Play-In Tournament)
- No. 3 seed Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 seed New Orleans Pelicans
- No. 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA Play-In Tournament, with its current system implemented for the 2021 playoffs, allowed each conference to expand its potential playoff field from eight teams to 10. The seventh- through 10th-ranked teams in each conference at the end of the regular season play in a four-day tournament to decide the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the first round of the playoffs.
In one set of games, the seventh-place team for each conference hosts the eighth-place finisher. The winners in each conference gets the No. 7 seed in their brackets.
In another set of games, the ninth-ranked team in each conference hosts the 10th-place team. The winners of those games play the losers of the seventh place vs. eighth place matchups to determine the No. 8 seed in their respective conferences.
This year, the play-in tournament begins April 16 and concludes April 19. The first round of the NBA playoffs begin April 20.
NBA Eastern Conference play-in tournament matchup
Here's how things currently look for the play-in in the East:
- Seventh-place Miami Heat vs. eighth-place Philadelphia 76ers
- Ninth-place Chicago Bulls vs. 10th-place Atlanta Hawks
NBA Western Conference play-in tournament matchup
Here's how things currently look for the play-in in the West:
- Seventh-place Phoenix Suns vs. eighth-place Sacramento Kings
- Ninth-place Los Angeles Lakers vs. 10th-place Golden State Warriors
When do the 2024 NBA Playoffs start?
The first round of the NBA playoffs begins April 20. Depending on how quickly first-round matchups are decided, the conference semifinals begin either May 4-5 or May 6-7. The conference finals are scheduled to begin May 21-22 but could move to May 19-20 pending conference semifinal results.
The NBA Finals begin June 6.
