The NBA season is nearing its end, with only two weeks and 111 games remaining in the regular season. While some teams have been officially eliminated from postseason contention, several playoff races are intensifying, particularly in the Eastern Conference.
Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament Scramble
Several teams in the East are still vying for a definitive playoff spot. The Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers are all close in the standings, with 32 or 33 losses each. One of these teams will likely head to the SoFi Play-In Tournament, while the other two will likely secure automatic berths in the first round of the playoffs.
Further down the standings, the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Hornets are also battling for position. They all have 35 or 36 losses. One of these three teams will finish eighth and get two chances to make the playoffs, while the other two will face tougher odds. None of the three has a particularly easy schedule over these next two weeks.
Western Conference Standings
The Oklahoma City Thunder are at the top of the West standings. Their 12-game winning streak ended in Boston, but they still hold a cushion in the standings.
The San Antonio Spurs are keeping the pressure on the Thunder. They are just two games behind in the loss column and boast the league’s longest active winning streak (eight games).
Teams That Have Clinched Playoff Spots
The Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have clinched playoff spots. However, none of them has clinched an exact seed.
- The Detroit Pistons have clinched a playoff spot.
- The Boston Celtics have clinched a playoff spot.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched a playoff spot.
- The San Antonio Spurs have clinched a playoff spot.
With so much still to be decided, the Eastern Conference races are particularly interesting as the regular season draws to a close.