How do ties work in the NBA standings? The tiebreaker rules explained
With each of the league’s teams down to just a few remaining regular season games, there are still several playoff and Play-In tournament spots on the line.
As we approach the end of the NBA’s regular season, the postseason tiebreaker has taken center stage. With a number of teams entrenched in a battle for a playoff spot, there is no margin for error at this point, meaning we’re in for a wild ride as we enter the home stretch, but what are the tiebreaker requirements and which teams have already secured one ahead of the 2023 NBA Playoffs? Let’s find out!
How do the NBA tiebreaker rules work?
To be clear, a tiebreaker comes into effect when two teams have the same record heading into the postseason. In terms of exactly how they break down, here’s what the NBA has to say about how the process works as it relates to determining who gets the spot in the playoffs or Play-In tournament and who doesn’t:
- Head-to-head record
- Division leader over team not leading division
- Higher winning percentage within division if teams share a division
- Higher winning percentage in conference games
- Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in own conference
- Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in other conference
- Higher point differential (points scored vs. points allowed)
Interestingly, there are scenarios in which three teams can have the same record. In that case the league stipulates the following be used in order to differentiate between the teams:
- Division leader over team not leading division
- Head-to-head record
- Higher winning percentage within division if teams share a division
- Higher winning percentage in conference games
- Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in own conference
- Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in other conference
- Higher point differential (points scored vs. points allowed)
What’s the current situation in the NBA’s standings (As of March 31st)
Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Bucks * | 55-22 | - |
| 2 | Boston Celtics * | 54-24 | 1.5 |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers * | 51-26 | 4 |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers * | 48-30 | 7.5 |
| 5 | New York Knicks | 45-33 | 10.5 |
| 6 | Brooklyn Nets | 42-35 | 13 |
| 7 | Miami Heat | 40-37 | 15 |
| 8 | Atlanta Hawks | 38-39 | 17 |
| 9 | Toronto Raptors | 38-39 | 17 |
| 10 | Chicago Bulls | 37-40 | 18 |
| - | Washington Wizards | 34-43 | 21 |
| - | Indiana Pacers | 34-44 | 21.5 |
| - | Orlando Magic | 33-44 | 22 |
| Eliminated | Charlotte Hornets | 26-52 | 29.5 |
| Eliminated | Detroit Pistons | 16-61 | 39 |
*secured NBA Playoff spot
Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver Nuggets * | 51-26 | - |
| 2 | Memphis Grizzlies * | 49-28 | 2 |
| 3 | Sacramento Kings * | 47-30 | 4 |
| 4 | Phoenix Suns | 42-35 | 9 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Clippers | 41-37 | 10.5 |
| 6 | Golden State Warriors | 41-37 | 10.5 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Lakers | 39-38 | 12 |
| 8 | New Orleans Pelicans | 39-38 | 12 |
| 9 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 39-39 | 12.5 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 38-40 | 13.5 |
| 11 | Dallas Mavericks | 37-40 | 14 |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | 36-41 | 15 |
| Eliminated | Portland Trail Blazers | 32-45 | 19 |
| Eliminated | San Antonio Spurs | 19-58 | 32 |
| Eliminated | Houston Rockets | 19-59 | 32.5 |
*secured NBA Playoff spot