NBA Daily Playoff Picture: The one when the Bucks can clinch homecourt throughout
The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on Sunday. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, strength of schedule, relevant tiebreakers and the stakes for every day's slate of games.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
*1. Milwaukee Bucks (57-22)
Magic number for No. 1 seed: 1
2. Boston Celtics (54-25)
Magic number for No. 2 seed: 1
3. Philadelphia 76ers (52-27)
*4. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-30)
*5. New York Knicks (46-33)
6. Brooklyn Nets (43-36)
Magic number for No. 6 seed: 2
Projected record: 45-37
Net rating: 1.1
Remaining schedule: @DET, ORL, PHI
Remaining schedule strength: .430 (easiest of East's possible play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed (clinched no lower than No. 7)
Own tiebreakers against: Heat, Hawks, Raptors
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
7. Miami Heat (42-37)
Projected record: 43-39
Net rating: -1.0
Remaining schedule: @PHI, @WAS, ORL
Remaining schedule strength: .506 (third-hardest of East's possible play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
Own tiebreakers against: Hawks
8. Atlanta Hawks (40-39)
Projected record: 41-41
Net rating: 0.1
Remaining schedule: WAS, PHI, @BOS
Remaining schedule strength: .591 (second-hardest of East's possible play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Own tiebreakers against: Raptors
9. Toronto Raptors (40-39)
Projected record: 41-41
Net rating: 1.6
Remaining schedule: @BOS, @BOS, MIL
Remaining schedule strength: .696 (hardest of East's possible play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Own tiebreakers against: Heat, Bulls
10. Chicago Bulls (38-41)
Projected record: 40-42
Net rating: 1.2
Remaining schedule: @MIL, @DAL, DET
Remaining schedule strength: .464 (second-easiest of East's possible play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Other meaningful tiebreakers
* Fourth-seeded Cleveland will host fifth-seeded New York in a first-round playoff series.
• Boston holds tiebreakers for the No. 1 seed against Milwaukee and the No. 3 seed against Philadelphia.
Wednesday's schedule (all times Eastern)
Brooklyn at Detroit (7 p.m.)
Toronto at Boston (7:30 p.m.): The Celtics can clinch a top-two seed with a win. The Raptors can clinch no lower than the No. 9 seed with a win.
Washington at Atlanta (7:30 p.m.): The Hawks can clinch no lower than the No. 9 seed with a win and a Chicago loss. A Hawks loss, a Nets win or a Raptors win locks Atlanta into the play-in tournament.
Chicago at Milwaukee (7:30 p.m., ESPN): The Bucks can clinch the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs with a win or a Boston loss. A Bulls loss and an Atlanta win would lock Chicago into the 10th seed.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Denver Nuggets (52-27)
Magic number for No. 1 seed: 1
2. Memphis Grizzlies (50-29)
Magic number for No. 2 seed: 2
3. Sacramento Kings (48-31)
*4. Phoenix Suns (44-35)
5. Golden State Warriors (42-38)
Projected record: 43-39
Net rating: 0.7
Remaining schedule: @SAC, @POR
Remaining schedule strength: .513 (fourth-hardest of West's potential play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
Own tiebreakers against: Mavericks, Jazz, Thunder
6. Los Angeles Clippers (41-38)
Projected record: 43-39
Net rating: 0.2
Remaining schedule: LAL, POR, @PHX
Remaining schedule strength: .498 (third-easiest of West's potential play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
Own tiebreakers against: Lakers, Warriors
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
7. Los Angeles Lakers (41-38)
Projected record: 43-39
Net rating: 0.5
Remaining schedule: @LAC, PHX, UTA
Remaining schedule strength: .511 (fifth-hardest of West's potential play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
Own tiebreakers against: Warriors, Pelicans, Thunder
8. New Orleans Pelicans (40-39)
Projected record: 41-41
Net rating: 1.8
Remaining schedule: MEM, NYK, @MIN
Remaining schedule strength: .571 (hardest of West's potential play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Thunder
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-40)
Projected record: 41-41
Net rating: -0.1
Remaining schedule: @SAS, NOP
Remaining schedule strength: .380 (easiest of West's potential play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Lakers, Thunder, Mavericks
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (38-42)
Projected record: 39-43
Net rating: 0.8
Remaining schedule: @UTA, MEM
Remaining schedule strength: .544 (third-hardest of West's potential play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 10 seed
Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Mavericks
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11. Dallas Mavericks (37-42)
Projected record: 39-43
Net rating: 0.1
Remaining schedule: SAC, CHI, SAS
Remaining schedule strength: .447 (second-easiest of West's potential play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
Own tiebreakers against: Jazz
12. Utah Jazz (36-43)
Projected record: 37-45
Net rating: -0.5
Remaining schedule: OKC, DEN, @LAL
Remaining schedule strength: .550 (second-hardest of West's potential play-in teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 10 seed
Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Pelicans
Other meaningful tiebreakers
* Phoenix is locked into the No. 4 seed.
• Sacramento currently holds the tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed against Memphis.
Wednesday's schedule (all times Eastern)
Memphis at New Orleans (8 p.m.): The Grizzlies can clinch a top-two seed with a win and a Sacramento loss. A Memphis loss gives Denver the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. The Pelicans can clinch no lower than the No. 9 seed with a win.
Sacramento at Dallas (8:30 p.m.): The Kings will be the No. 3 seed with a loss and a Memphis win.
Lakers at Clippers (10 p.m.)
