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2024 NBA Playoffs: Bracket, standings, latest playoff picture as playoffs near

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 03: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder high fives Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 after scoring during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on March 03, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The NBA is nearing the end of the 2023-24 regular season, and while some teams have secured their playoff spots, others are still fighting for a chance to make the postseason.

The Boston Celtics are leading the Eastern Conference with a record of 59-16 and have already secured the regular season title. The Milwaukee Bucks are in second place, two games ahead of the Cavaliers. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in third place with a record of 45-30, while the New York Knicks are in fourth place with a record of 44-30.

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder currently hold the top spot with a 52-22 record, while the Denver Nuggets are close behind with a 52-23 record. The Minnesota Timberwolves sit in third place and have a four-game lead over the fourth-placed Los Angeles Clippers.

Here's how the playoff picture currently looks with just two weeks left to play in the regular season.

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NBA playoff standings

Current after April 1 games. The top 6 teams in each conference automatically make the playoffs. Teams in positions 7-10 qualify for the play-in tournament.

Eastern Conference

Seed

Team

Record

Games back

1.

Boston Celtics - c

60-16

--

2.

Milwaukee Bucks - x

47-29

13.0

3.

Cleveland Cavaliers - x

46-31

14.5

4.

Orlando Magic - x

45-31

15.0

5.

New York Knicks - x

44-31

15.5

6.

Miami Heat - x

43-33

16.5

7.

Indiana Pacers - x

43-34

17.5

8.

Philadelphia 76ers - x

41-35

19.0

9.

Chicago Bulls

36-40

24.0

10.

Atlanta Hawks

36-40

24.0

11.

Brooklyn Nets

30-47

30.5

12.

Toronto Raptors

23-53

37.0

13.

Charlotte Hornets - o

18-58

42.0

14.

Washington Wizards - o

15-62

45.5

15.

Detroit Pistons - o

13-63

47.0

Western Conference

Seed

Team

Record

Games back

1.

Minnesota Timberwolves - x

53-23

--

2.

Denver Nuggets - x

53-23

--

3.

Oklahoma City Thunder - x

52-23

0.5

4.

Los Angeles Clippers

47-28

5.5

5.

Dallas Mavericks

45-30

7.5

6.

Phoenix Suns

45-31

8.0

7.

New Orleans Pelicans

45-31

8.0

8.

Sacramento Kings

44-31

8.5

9.

Los Angeles Lakers

44-33

9.5

10.

Golden State Warriors

41-34

11.5

11.

Houston Rockets

38-37

14.5

12.

Utah Jazz

29-47

24.0

13.

Memphis Grizzlies - o

26-50

27.0

14.

Portland Trail Blazers - o

20-56

33.0

15.

San Antonio Spurs - o

18-58

35.0

NBA Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here's how the first round of the playoffs would shake out in the East if the season ended after Monday.

  • No. 1 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 seed (Winner of the Play-In Tournament)

  • No. 2 seed Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 7 seed (Winner of the Play-In Tournament)

  • No. 3 seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 6 seed Miami Heat

  • No. 4 seed Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 seed New York Knicks

NBA Western Conference playoff bracket

Here's how the matchups look with the current standings in the Western Conference.

  • No. 1 seed Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 8 seed (Winner of the Play-In Tournament)

  • No. 2 seed Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 seed (Winner of the Play-In Tournament)

  • No. 3 seed Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 seed Phoenix Suns

  • No. 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks

What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The NBA Play-In Tournament, with its current system implemented for the 2021 playoffs, allowed each conference to expand its potential playoff field from eight teams to 10. The seventh- through 10th-ranked teams in each conference at the end of the regular season play in a four-day tournament to decide the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the first round of the playoffs.

In one set of games, the seventh-place team for each conference hosts the eighth-place finisher. The winners in each conference gets the No. 7 seed in their brackets.

In another set of games, the ninth-ranked team in each conference hosts the 10th-place team. The winners of those games play the losers of the seventh place vs. eighth place matchups to determine the No. 8 seed in their respective conferences.

This year, the play-in tournament begins April 16 and concludes April 19. The first round of the NBA playoffs begin April 20.

NBA Eastern Conference play-in tournament matchup

Here's how things currently look for the play-in in the East:

  • Seventh-place Miami Heat vs. eighth-place Philadelphia 76ers

  • Ninth-place Chicago Bulls vs. 10th-place Atlanta Hawks

NBA Western Conference play-in tournament matchup

Here's how things currently look for the play-in in the West:

  • Seventh-place Phoenix Suns vs. eighth-place Sacramento Kings

  • Ninth-place Los Angeles Lakers vs. 10th-place Golden State Warriors

When do the 2024 NBA Playoffs start?

The first round of the NBA playoffs begins April 20. Depending on how quickly first-round matchups are decided, the conference semifinals begin either May 4-5 or May 6-7. The conference finals are scheduled to begin May 21-22 but could move to May 19-20 pending conference semifinal results.

The NBA Finals begin June 6.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NBA playoff picture: Bracket, standings and play-in updates