NBA Playoff Standings 2024: Latest Records, Postseason Scenarios and Predictions

If you're looking to find separation in the NBA standings, you won't see much of it.

Just about every playoff race is headed toward a photo finish Sunday with things being historically close atop the Western Conference:

Beyond the top-seeded Boston Celtics, no one is really breathing easy at the moment.

Let's dive into the congestion, then, with a look at the latest standings and clinching scenarios before predicting how the final bracket takes shape.

Latest Standings

Joshua Gateley/Getty Images

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 12: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball in front of Jaylin Galloway #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Paycom Center on April 12, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

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 Playoff Berth Cutoff-----

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 Cutoff-----

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

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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 Playoff Berth Cutoff-----

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 Cutoff-----

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. e-Portland Trail Blazers: 21-60

*z-clinched best league record; y-clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth; pb-clinched play-in berth; e-eliminated from playoff contention

Playoff Scenarios

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

DENVER, CO - APRIL 10: Nikola Jokic (15) and Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets size up with Rudy Gobert (27) and Anthony Edwards (5) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Denver's stunning loss to San Antonio on Friday—keyed by Victor Wembanyama's latest masterpiece—means the defending champs no longer control their own destiny. In fact, the Nuggets are now in the worst shape of the three teams tied atop the West.

Denver closes with Memphis, while Oklahoma City draws Dallas and Minnesota takes on Phoenix. Those three contests will determine how the West shakes out, with the following scenarios all on the table:

• All three teams win or lose: 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

Lower down the West standings, you'll find ferocious fights for the Nos. 6 and 8 seeds, both of which hold major playoff implications. The sixth seed avoids the play-in and secures an outright playoff berth. The eighth seed enters the play-in with two chances to get one win and has a shot at climbing to seventh.

The Pelicans are seeded sixth for now, but the Suns are just a game behind and hold the tiebreaker. Still, Phoenix would need both a win over Minnesota and an L.A. loss to New Orleans to avoid the play-in.

As for the eighth seed, the Lakers have it for now, but they don't have the tiebreaker against the Kings (who have the tiebreaker over Golden State) or the Warriors. A three-way tie, then, would elevate Sacramento to No. 8.

In the East, three teams remain in the hunt for the No. 2 spot. The Bucks control their destiny as a win over the Magic would decide the race, but the Knicks could take it with a win over the Bulls and a Bucks' loss. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, could still swipe it with a win over the Hornets and losses by the Bucks and Knicks.

Finally, four teams remain in the hunt for the Nos. 5 and 6 seeds, the final spots that avoid the play-in: the Magic, Pacers, 76ers and Heat. If all four teams win Sunday, Orlando and Indiana would get into the playoffs with Philly and Miami being sent to the play-in.

Predicted Bracket

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 12: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 12, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

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