If you're looking to find a bye in the NBA standings, you won't see much of it.
Nearly every race in the playoffs is headed for a photo finish on Sunday, with a historically close race atop the Western Conference.
Outside of the top-seeded Boston Celtics, no one is really resting at the moment.
So, before we try to predict what the final standings will be, let's take a closer look at the latest standings and winning scenarios to take a closer look at the crowd situation.
eastern conference
1. Z-Boston Celtics: 63-18
2.x-Milwaukee Bucks: 49-32
3. x-New York Knicks: 49-32
4.x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 48-33
5. Orlando Magic: 46-35
6. Indiana Pacers: 46-35
—–Automatic deadline for playoff qualification——
7. Philadelphia 76ers: 46-35
8. Miami Heat: 45-36
9. pb-Chicago Bulls: 39-42
10. PB-Atlanta Hawks: 36-45
—–Play-in tournament deadline—-
11.e-Brooklyn Nets: 32-49
12. e-Toronto Raptors: 25-56
13. e-Charlotte Hornets: 20-61
14. e-Washington Wizards: 15-66
15.e-Detroit Pistons: 14-67
western conference
1.x-Oklahoma City Thunder: 56-25
2.x-Minnesota Timberwolves: 56-25
3.x-Denver Nuggets: 56-25
4.y-Los Angeles Clippers: 51-30
5. Y-Dallas Mavericks: 50-31
6. New Orleans Pelicans: 49-32
—–Automatic deadline for playoff qualification——
7. Phoenix Suns: 48-33
8. Los Angeles Lakers: 46-35
9. Sacramento Kings: 45-36
10. Golden State Warriors: 45-36
—–Play-in tournament deadline—-
11.e-Houston Rockets: 40-41
12.e-Utah Jazz: 31-50
13.e-Memphis Grizzlies: 27-54
14.e-San Antonio Spurs: 21-60
15. ePortland Trail Blazers: 21-60
*z has the best record in the league. y clinch split. X qualified for the playoffs. Won the right to play in with a personal best. Eliminated from e-playoff contention
Victor Wembaneyama's latest goal was key to Denver's brutal loss to San Antonio on Friday. masterpiece— which means the defending champions are no longer in control of their own destiny. In fact, the Nuggets are currently in the worst situation of the three teams tied for first place in the West Division.
Denver will have a close game against Memphis, Oklahoma City will draw with Dallas, and Minnesota will face Phoenix. These three contests of his will determine how the West falls. All of the following scenarios are on the table.
- Wins and losses for all three teams: 1. Thunder, 2. Timberwolves, 3. Nuggets.
- Thunder and Nuggets win, Timberwolves lose: 1. Thunder, 2. Nuggets, 3. Timberwolves
- Thunder and Timberwolves win, Nuggets lose: 1. Timberwolves, 2. Thunder, 3. Nuggets
- Timberwolves and Nuggets win, Thunder lose: 1. Timberwolves, 2. Nuggets, 3. Thunder
Moving down the West standings, we'll see a tight battle for the No. 6 and No. 8 seeds, both of which will have major implications for the playoffs. The sixth seed avoided the play-in and secured a full playoff berth. The No. 8 seed enters the play-in with two chances to win one and has a chance to move up to seventh place.
The Pelicans are currently the No. 6 seed, but the Suns hold the tiebreaker by one game. Still, Phoenix needs a win against Minnesota and a loss to New Orleans in Los Angeles to avoid the play-in.
As for the No. 8 seed, the Lakers have it for now, but there is no tiebreaker with the Kings (who have a tiebreaker with Golden State) or the Warriors. In this case, if the three teams tie, Sacramento will move up to 8th place.
In the East Division, three teams are still aiming for second place. A win against the Magic would decide the race, so the Bucks would decide their fate, but the Knicks could win the championship if they beat the Bulls and the Bucks lost. On the other hand, the Cavaliers could still survive if they beat the Hornets and lose to the Bucks and Knicks.
Finally, four teams remain, the Magic, Pacers, 76ers and Heat, competing for the fifth and sixth seeds, the final spots to avoid the play-ins. If all four teams win on Sunday, Orlando and Indiana will advance to the playoffs, while Philadelphia and Miami will be sent to the play-ins.
eastern conference
1. Boston Celtics
2. New York Knicks
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Orlando Magic
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Miami Heat
9. Chicago Bulls
10. Atlanta Hawks
western conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Phoenix Suns
8. Sacramento Kings
9. Golden State Warriors
10. Los Angeles Lakers
