Lakers can clinch play-in berth
The NBA playoff picture will appear clearer every day between now and the end of the regular season on Sunday. In the meantime, we’ll provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, strength of schedule, relevant matchups and stakes for each game day’s slate.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Milwaukee Bucks (56-22)
The magic number for seed no. 1:3
2. Boston Celtics (54-24)
The magic number for seed no. 2: 1
3. Philadelphia 76ers (51-27)
The magic number for seed no. 3: 1
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (49-30)
The magic number for seed no. 4: 1
5. New York Knicks (46-33)
The magic number for seed no. 5:2
6. Brooklyn Nets (43-35)
The magic number for seed no. 6:2
TOURNAMENT PLAYS
7. Miami Heat (41-37)
Projected record: 43-39
Net rating: -1.2
Remaining schedule: @DET, @PHI, @WAS, ORL
Remaining strength of schedule: .433 (easiest of potential East playoff teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 6 (attached no lower than No. 10)
Owns tiebreakers against: Hawks
8. Atlanta Hawks (39-39)
Projected record: 41-41
Net rating: -0.2
Remaining schedule: @CHI, WAS, PHI, @BOS
Remaining strength of schedule: .567 (second-hardest of potential East playoff teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 6 (attached no lower than No. 10)
Owns tiebreakers against: Raptors
9. Toronto Raptors (39-39)
Projected record: 41-41
Net rating: 1.4
Remaining schedule: @CHA, @BOS, @BOS, MIL
Remaining strength of schedule: .607 (toughest of possible teams to play in the East)
Highest possible finish: No. 7 (attached no lower than No. 10)
Owns tiebreakers against: Heat, Bulls
10. Chicago Bulls (38-40)
Projected record: 40-42
Net rating: 1.4
Remaining schedule: ATL, @MIL, @DAL, DET
Remaining strength of schedule: .473 (second-easiest among potential playoff teams in the East)
Highest possible finish: No. 7
Tiebreakers vs: Heat
Other meaningful equalizers
Boston holds ties for No. 1 against Milwaukee and No. 3 against Philadelphia.
Philadelphia holds the No. 3 tie against Cleveland.
New York holds the tie for No. 4 against Cleveland.
Brooklyn holds a tie for No. 6 against Miami.
The story continues
Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics can move into the top two spots in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs with a win against Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. (Winslow Townson/USA Today Sports)Tuesday time (all times Eastern)
Milwaukee at Washington (7 p.m.)
Toronto at Charlotte (7 p.m.)
Cleveland at Orlando (7 p.m.): The Cavaliers can clinch a home playoff seed, knock off the Magic and set up the 10-team playoff field in the East with a win.
Miami at Detroit (7:00 p.m.): The Heat can’t get any worse than No. 8 by one win.
Minnesota at Brooklyn (7:30 p.m.): The Nets can make the playoffs with a win and a Heat loss.
Boston at Philadelphia (8 p.m., TNT): The Celtics can clinch a top two with a win.
Atlanta at Chicago (8 p.m.): The Bulls can clinch a play-in tournament spot, set the 10-team playoff field in the East and secure a tie against the Hawks with a win.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Denver Nuggets (52-26)
The magic number for seed no. 1:1
2. Memphis Grizzlies (49-29)
The magic number for seed no. 2: 3
3. Sacramento Kings (47-31)
The magic number for seed no. 3: 1
4. Phoenix Suns (43-35)
The magic number for seed no. 4: 2
5. Los Angeles Clippers (41-38)
Projected record: 43-39
Net rating: 0.2
Time left: LAL, BUT, @PHX
Remaining strength of schedule: .496 (third-easiest of West playoff teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 4 (attached no lower than No. 10)
Owns tiebreakers against: Lakers
6. Golden State Warriors (41-38)
TOURNAMENT PLAYS
7. Los Angeles Lakers (40-38)
Projected record: 42-40
Net rating: 0.5
Remaining schedule: @UTA, @LAC, PHX, UTA
Residual strength of schedule: .498 (fourth-easiest among potential West teams for the game)
Highest possible finish: No. 4
Owns tiebreakers against: Warriors, Pelicans, Thunder
8. New Orleans Pelicans (40-38)
Projected record: 42-40
Net rating: 2.1
Remaining schedule: SAC, MEM, NYK, @MIN
Remaining strength of schedule: .576 (toughest of possible West teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 4
Owns tiebreakers against: Clippers, Thunder
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (39-40)
Projected record: 41-41
Net rating: -0.2
Remaining schedule: @BKN, @SAS, NOP
Remaining strength of schedule: .440 (easiest of possible West teams)
Highest possible finish: No. 5
Owns tiebreakers against: Clippers, Lakers, Thunder, Mavericks
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (38-40)
Projected record: 39-43
Net rating: 0.8
Remaining schedule: @GSW, @UTA, MEM
Strength of schedule remaining: .536 (third-hardest of potential West teams to play in)
Highest possible finish: No. 6
Owns tiebreakers against: Clippers, Mavericks
11. Dallas Mavericks (37-42)
Projected record: 39-43
Net rating: 0.1
Remaining schedule: SAC, CHI, SAS
Residual strength of schedule: .449 (second-easiest among West prospects for games in play)
Highest possible finish: No. 8
Owns tiebreakers against: Lakers, Jazz
12. Utah Jazz (36-42)
Projected record: 38-44
Net rating: -0.5
Remaining schedule: LAL, OKC, DEN, @LAL
Residual strength of schedule: .543 (second-hardest of all West prospects for games in the game)
Highest possible finish: No. 7
Owns tiebreakers against: Clippers, Pelicans
Other notable players Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers can secure a spot in the tournament with a win against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night. (Erik Williams/USA Today Sports)Tuesday time (all times Eastern)
Minnesota at Brooklyn (7:30 p.m.)
Portland at Memphis (8 p.m.)
Denver at Houston (8 p.m.): The Nuggets can clinch the No. 1 with a Grizzlies win or loss.
Sacramento at New Orleans (8 p.m.): The Kings can’t win any worse than the No. 3 with a win. The Pelicans can clinch a play-in spot with a win.
Lakers at Jazz (9 p.m.): The Lakers can clinch a play-in spot with a win.
Oklahoma City at Golden State (10 p.m.): The Warriors can’t get any worse than No. 8 and a tie against the one-win Thunder.
San Antonio at Phoenix (10 p.m.): The Suns can’t win any worse than the No. 5 with a win.
