NBA Daily Playoff Picture: The one where Joel Embiid and the 76ers could use a win
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. Minnesota Timberwolves (53-24)
Clinched playoff berth
Projected record: 57-25
Net rating: 6.8
Remaining schedule: @LAL, WAS, @DEN, ATL, PHX
Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 4)
Own tiebreakers against: Thunder, Nuggets, Clippers
2. Denver Nuggets (53-24)
Clinched playoff berth
Projected record: 56-26
Net rating: 4.9
Remaining schedule: ATL, @UTA, MIN, @SAS, @MEM
Remaining strength of schedule: .426 (easiest in the West)
Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 4)
No relevant tiebreakers
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (52-25)
Clinched playoff berth
Projected record: 56-26
Net rating: 6.3
Remaining schedule: @CHA, SAC, SAS, MIL, DAL
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
Remaining schedule: CLE, @PHX, PHX, UTA, HOU
Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
Own tiebreakers against: Mavericks
5. Dallas Mavericks (47-30)
Projected record: 50-32
Net rating: 2.3
Remaining schedule: HOU, @CHA, @MIA, DET, @OKC
Remaining strength of schedule: .429 (second-easiest in the West)
Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Own tiebreakers against: Suns, Lakers
6. Phoenix Suns (46-31)
Projected record: 48-34
Net rating: 3.2
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
Remaining schedule: @PHX, @POR, @SAC, @GSW, LAL
Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Kings
8. Sacramento Kings (44-33)
Projected record: 47-35
Net rating: 1.2
Remaining schedule: @BKN, @OKC, NOP, PHX, POR
Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Own tiebreakers against: Lakers
9. Los Angeles Lakers (44-33)
Projected record: 46-36
Net rating: 0.4
Remaining schedule: CLE, MIN, GSW, @MEM, @NOP
Remaining strength of schedule: .553 (second-hardest in the West)
Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)
Own tiebreakers against: Clippers, Suns
10. Golden State Warriors (42-35)
Projected record: 45-37
Net rating: 2.2
Remaining schedule: UTA, @LAL, @POR, NOP, UTA
Highest possible finish: No. 5 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
Highest possible finish: No. 10 seed
No relevant tiebreakers
Saturday's games of consequence (all times Eastern)
Cavaliers at Lakers (3:30 p.m.)
LAL will be eliminated from contention for a home playoff seed with a loss
Hawks at Nuggets (9 p.m.)
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
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 (46-31)
Projected record: 49-33
Net rating: 2.8
Remaining schedule: @LAL, @LAC, MEM, IND, CHA
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
Remaining schedule: CHI, @HOU, @MIL, @PHI, MIL
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
Remaining schedule: @MIL, @CHI, @BOS, BKN, CHI
Remaining strength of schedule: .551 (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
Remaining schedule: MIA, @TOR, @CLE, ATL
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
Remaining schedule: @IND, @ATL, DAL, TOR, TOR
Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)
Own tiebreakers against: Cavaliers, Magic
8. Philadelphia 76ers (42-35)
Projected record: 46-36
Net rating: 2.3
Remaining schedule: @MEM, @SAS, DET, ORL, BKN
Remaining strength of schedule: .348 (easiest in the East)
Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 9)
Own tiebreakers against: Magic
9. Chicago Bulls (37-40)
Clinched play-in berth
Projected record: 39-43
Net rating: -1.8
Remaining schedule: @ORL, NYK, @DET, @WAS, @NYK
Remaining strength of schedule: .422 (second-easiest in the East)
Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
Own tiebreakers against: 76ers, Hawks
10. Atlanta Hawks (36-41)
Clinched play-in berth
Projected record: 38-44
Net rating: -1.2
Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control destiny
Remaining schedule: @DEN, MIA, CHA, @MIN, @IND
Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
No relevant tiebreakers
Saturday's games of consequence (all times Eastern)
Cavaliers at Lakers (3:30 p.m.)
CLE will clinch at least the No. 7 seed with a win and a PHI loss
76ers at Grizzlies (8 p.m.)
PHI clinches at least the No. 8 seed with a win
PHI will be eliminated from contention for the No. 3 seed with a loss and a CLE win
Hawks at Nuggets (9 p.m.)
