NBA Daily Playoff Picture: The one where the Rockets can be eliminated

The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 14. 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.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Denver Nuggets (54-24)

Clinched playoff berth

• Projected record: 57-25

• Net rating: 5.2

• Magic number for top-three seed: 1

• Remaining schedule: @UTA, MIN, @SAS, @MEM

• Remaining strength of schedule: .414 (easiest in the West)

• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 4)

• No relevant tiebreakers

2. Minnesota Timberwolves (53-24)

Clinched playoff berth

• Projected record: 57-25

• Net rating: 6.8

• Magic number for top-three seed: 1

• Remaining schedule: @LAL, WAS, @DEN, ATL, PHX

• Remaining strength of schedule: .504

• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 4)

• Own tiebreakers against: Thunder, Nuggets, Clippers

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (52-25)

Clinched playoff berth

• Projected record: 56-26

• Net rating: 6.3

• Magic number for top-three seed: 2

• Remaining schedule: @CHA, SAC, SAS, MIL, DAL

• Remaining strength of schedule: .457

• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 5)

• Own tiebreakers against: Nuggets, Clippers

4. Los Angeles Clippers (49-28)

• Projected record: 52-30

• Net rating: 3.7

• Magic number for top-four seed: 3

• Remaining schedule: CLE, @PHX, PHX, UTA, HOU

• Remaining strength of schedule: .531

• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

• Own tiebreakers against: Mavericks

5. Dallas Mavericks (47-30)

• Projected record: 50-32

• Net rating: 2.3

• Magic number for playoff berth: 3

• Remaining schedule: HOU, @CHA, @MIA, DET, @OKC

• Remaining strength of schedule: .427 (second-easiest in the West)

• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)

• Own tiebreakers against: Suns, Pelicans, Lakers

6. Phoenix Suns (46-31)

• Projected record: 48-34

• Net rating: 3.2

• Magic number for playoff berth: 4

• Remaining schedule: NOP, LAC, @LAC, @SAC, @MIN

• Remaining strength of schedule: .623 (hardest in the West)

• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)

• Own tiebreakers against: Pelicans, Warriors

7. New Orleans Pelicans (45-32)

• Projected record: 48-34

• Net rating: 4.7

• Magic number for top-eight seed: 4

• Remaining schedule: @PHX, @POR, @SAC, @GSW, LAL

• Remaining strength of schedule: .513

• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)

• Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Kings

8. Los Angeles Lakers (45-33)

• Projected record: 47-35

• Net rating: 0.7

• Magic number for top-eight seed: 4

• Remaining schedule: MIN, GSW, @MEM, @NOP

• Remaining strength of schedule: .540 (second-hardest in the West)

• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)

• Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Suns

9. Sacramento Kings (44-33)

• Projected record: 47-35

• Net rating: 1.2

• Magic number for top-eight seed: 5

• Remaining schedule: @BKN, @OKC, NOP, PHX, POR

• Remaining strength of schedule: .505

• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)

• Own tiebreakers against: Lakers

10. Golden State Warriors (42-35)

• Projected record: 45-37

• Net rating: 2.2

• Magic number for play-in tournament berth: 1

• Remaining schedule: UTA, @LAL, @POR, NOP, UTA

• Remaining strength of schedule: .438

• Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed

• Own tiebreakers against: Rockets

11. Houston Rockets (38-39)

• Projected record: 41-41

• Net rating: 0.7

• Magic number for play-in tournament berth: Do not control destiny

• Remaining schedule: @DAL, ORL, @UTA, @POR, @LAC

• Remaining strength of schedule: .496

• Highest possible finish: No. 10 seed

• No relevant tiebreakers

Sunday's games of consequence (all times Eastern)

Rockets at Mavericks (3:30 p.m., NBA TV)

• HOU will be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss or a GSW win

• DAL clinches a top-eight seed with a win and a LAL loss

• DAL will be eliminated from contention for the No. 3 seed with a loss or an OKC win

Cavaliers at Clippers (3:30 p.m.)

• LAC clinches a playoff berth with a win and a NOP loss

• LAC will be eliminated from contention for the No. 2 seed with a loss or a MIN win

Thunder at Hornets (6 p.m.)

• OKC clinches a top-four seed with a win or a LAC loss

Pelicans at Suns (6 p.m.)

• PHX clinches a top-nine seed with a win

• NOP will be eliminated from contention for a home playoff seed with a loss and a LAC win

Kings at Nets (7:30 p.m.)

• SAC will be eliminated from contention for a home playoff seed with a loss or a LAC win

• LAL will be eliminated from contention for the No. 5 seed with a loss and a DAL win

Jazz at Warriors (8:30 p.m.)

• GSW will clinch at least a play-in tournament berth with a win or a HOU loss

• GSW will be locked into the play-in tournament with a loss and a HOU loss or a win and a PHX win

Timberwolves at Lakers (10 p.m., NBA TV)

• MIN clinches a top-three seed with a win or a LAC loss

• LAL will be eliminated from contention for a home playoff seed with a loss or a LAC win

• LAL will be eliminated from contention for the No. 5 seed with a loss and a DAL win

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Boston Celtics (61-16)

Clinched No. 1 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 8 seed (determined by play-in tournament)

2. Milwaukee Bucks (47-30)

• Projected record: 49-33

• Net rating: 3.1

• Magic number for No. 2 seed: 4

• Remaining schedule: NYK, BOS, ORL, @OKC, @ORL

• Remaining strength of schedule: .644 (hardest in the East)

• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

• Own tiebreakers against: Knicks, Heat

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-32)

• Projected record: 49-33

• Net rating: 2.5

• Magic number for top-four seed: 4

• Remaining schedule: @LAC, MEM, IND, CHA

• Remaining strength of schedule: .448

• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

• No relevant tiebreakers

4. Orlando Magic (45-32)

• Projected record: 48-34

• Net rating: 2.3

• Magic number for playoff berth: 3

• Remaining schedule: CHI, @HOU, @MIL, @PHI, MIL

• Remaining strength of schedule: .549

• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

• Own tiebreakers against: Knicks, Pacers

5. New York Knicks (45-32)

• Projected record: 48-34

• Net rating: 4.8

• Magic number for playoff berth: 3

• Remaining schedule: @MIL, @CHI, @BOS, BKN, CHI

• Remaining strength of schedule: .552 (second-hardest in the East)

• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

• Own tiebreakers against: Cavaliers, Heat, 76ers

6. Indiana Pacers (44-34)

• Projected record: 46-36

• Net rating: 2.5

• Magic number for playoff berth: 4

• Remaining schedule: MIA, @TOR, @CLE, ATL

• Remaining strength of schedule: .481

• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

• Own tiebreakers against: Bucks, Knicks, 76ers

7. Miami Heat (43-34)

• Projected record: 46-36

• Net rating: 1.7

• Magic number for playoff berth: 5

• Remaining schedule: @IND, @ATL, DAL, TOR, TOR

• Remaining strength of schedule: .452

• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

• Own tiebreakers against: Cavaliers, Magic

8. Philadelphia 76ers (43-35)

• Projected record: 46-36

• Net rating: 2.5

• Magic number for playoff berth: Do not control destiny

• Remaining schedule: @SAS, DET, ORL, BKN

• Remaining strength of schedule: .348 (easiest in the East)

• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

• Own tiebreakers against: Magic

9. Chicago Bulls (37-40)

Clinched play-in berth

• Projected record: 39-43

• Net rating: -1.8

• Magic number for No. 9 seed: 3

• Remaining schedule: @ORL, NYK, @DET, @WAS, @NYK

• Remaining strength of schedule: .421 (second-easiest in the East)

• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed

• Own tiebreakers against: Hawks

10. Atlanta Hawks (36-42)

Clinched play-in berth

• Projected record: 38-44

• Net rating: -1.6

• Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control destiny

• Remaining schedule: MIA, CHA, @MIN, @IND

• Remaining strength of schedule: .515

• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed

• No relevant tiebreakers

Sunday's games of consequence (all times Eastern)

Cavaliers at Clippers (3:30 p.m.)

• CLE clinches a top-seven seed with a win and a PHI loss

Heat at Pacers (5 p.m.)

• MIA will be eliminated from contention for the No. 2 seed with a loss and a MIL or ORL win

• IND will be eliminated from contention for the No. 2 seed with a loss or MIL and ORL wins

Knicks at Bucks (7 p.m., NBA TV)

• MIL clinches a playoff berth with a win or a MIA loss and an ORL win

76ers at Spurs (7 p.m.)

• PHI will be eliminated from contention for a home playoff seed with a loss, a NYK win and a IND, ORL or CLE win