2023 NBA Playoff Picture, Bracket: Updated standings, matchups, seeds

The race for one of the 16 spots in the 2023 NBA playoffs is coming down to the wire.

Here’s what the playoffs would look if the season ended today, April 8:

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Milwaukee Bucks (seed clinched)
2. Boston Celtics (seed clinched)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (seed clinched)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (seed clinched)
5. New York Knicks (seed clinched)
6. Brooklyn Nets (seed clinched)
7. Miami Heat (Play-In position clinched)
8. Atlanta Hawks (Play-In position clinched)
9. Toronto Raptors (Play-In position clinched)
10. Chicago Bulls (Play-In position clinched)

EASTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET

1. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in
2. Boston Celtics vs. Winner of No. 7 seed play-in
3. Philadelphia 76ers vs. 6. Brooklyn Nets (finalized)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. New York Knicks (finalized)

PLAY-IN GAMES (finalized)

8. Atlanta Hawks @ 7. Miami Heat
April 11, TNT, Time: TBD

Winner advances as the No. 7 seed; loser plays the winner of Raptors-Bulls for the No. 8 seed.

10. Chicago Bulls @ 9. Toronto Raptors
April 12, ESPN, Time: TBD

Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Heat-Hawks for the No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated from the Play-In Tournament.

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Denver Nuggets (seed clinched)
2. Memphis Grizzlies (seed clinched)
3. Sacramento Kings (seed clinched)
4. Phoenix Suns (seed clinched)
5. Golden State Warriors* (Remaining: @ POR)
6. LA Clippers* (vs. POR, @ PHX) — 0.5 GB
7. Los Angeles Lakers* (vs. UTA) — 1 GB
8. New Orleans Pelicans* (@ MIN) — 1 GB
9. Minnesota Timberwolves* (@ SAS, vs. NO) — 2.5 GB
10. Oklahoma City Thunder^ (vs. MEM) — 4 GB

WESTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET

1. Denver Nuggets vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in
2. Memphis Grizzlies vs Winner of No. 7 seed play-in
3. Sacramento Kings vs. 6. LA Clippers
4. Phoenix Suns vs. 5. Golden State Warriors

PLAY-IN GAMES

7. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. New Orleans Pelicans

Winner advances as the No. 7 seed; loser plays the winner of Wolves-Thunder for the No. 8 seed.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. 10. Oklahoma City Thunder

Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Lakers-Pelicans for the No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated from the Play-In Tournament.

* Will at least make Play-In
^ Will participate in Play-In

When do the 2023 NBA playoffs start?

The NBA playoffs start with the Play-In Tournament, which runs between April 11-14. Following that, the first round of the playoffs start on April 15. Play will continue until the NBA Finals begin on June 1.

How many teams make NBA playoffs?

Historically, 16 teams (the eight teams with the best records in each conference) comprise the NBA playoff teams. With the Play-In Tournament, four extra teams earn the chance play their way into the postseason.