The race to the 2024 NBA playoffs is heating up. With so much movement in the league standings, this news shows what has changed after every night game.
Additionally, it examines what the playoff bracket would look like if the season ended today.
2024 NBA standings: Latest moves
(After matches played on April 5)
Western Conference
- Minnesota Timberwolves’ loss to Suns ties Minnesota with Denver Nuggets for the West’s No. 1 seed.
- Oklahoma City Thunder stay put at No. 3 after losing to the Indiana Pacers, trailing Timberwolves and Nuggets by just 1 game.
- Los Angeles Clippers remain at No. 4 after a win over Jazz, maintaining a 2-game cushion over No. 5 Dallas Mavericks.
- Mavericks stay at No. 5 after beating the Golden State Warriors, trailing the No. 4 Clippers by 2 games and leading No. 6 Phoenix Suns by 1 game.
- The Suns stay at No. 6 after win vs. Timberwolves, owning a 1-game lead over No. 7 the New Orleans Pelicans.
- Pelicans hold at No. 7 after loss to San Antonio Spurs, only 1-game lead on Sacramento Kings and L.A. Lakers.
- Kings steal postseason berth (top-10 finish) with Houston loss, retain No. 8 on a tiebreaker after loss to the Boston Celtics.
- Los Angeles Lakers tie Sacramento with Kings loss, clinch postseason berth (top-10 finish) following Houston Rockets’ loss.
- Warriors remain No. 10 after loss to Mavericks, leading Rockets by 4 games, but falling 2 back of Sacramento and L.A. Lakers for No. 8/9.
- The Rockets avoid elimination after losing to the Miami Heat due to the Warriors’ defeat.
Eastern Conference
- The Milwaukee Bucks cling to No. 2 after a third straight loss, only up by 1 game on Cleveland and 2 on Orlando and New York.
- Orlando Magic remain tied with New York after a loss to Charlotte Hornets and hold No. 4 on the head-to-head tiebreaker.
- New York Knicks hold at No. 5 despite loss to Chicago, behind Magic on tiebreaker and 1 game back of No. 3 Cleveland.
- Indiana Pacers remain No. 6 after beating Thunder, trailing Orlando and New York by 1.5 games
- Miami Heat keep pace at No. 7 after win over Rockets, extend lead over No. 8 Philadelphia 76ers to 1 game
- Chicago Bulls remain No. 9, beat Knicks expanding lead over Atlanta Hawks to 1 game.
2024 NBA playoffs bracket
(After games played on April 5)
Western Conference
(1) Timberwolves vs. (8) Play-In Winner.
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Play-In Winner.
(3) Thunder vs. (6) Suns.
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Mavericks.
Eastern Conference
(1) Celtics vs. (8) Play-In Winner.
(2) Bucks vs. (7) Play-In Winner.
(3) Cavaliers vs. (6) Pacers.
(4) Magic vs. (5) Knicks.
2024 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament bracket
(After games played on April 5)
Western Conference
(7) Pelicans vs. (8) Kings.
(9) Lakers vs. (10) Warriors.
Eastern Conference
(7) Heat vs. (8) 76ers.
(9) Bulls vs. (10) Hawks.
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