NBA Playoff race heating up: Wizards eliminated, Mavs still in the picture, and more ahead of Saturday games

The NBA Play-In Tournament begins April 15, just over three weeks from now. Three teams have clinched their spot in the playoffs already while three have already been eliminated. Others are clinging to their chances with all that they have.

The Washington Wizards were the latest team to be eliminated from contention with their loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday, essentially sealing the deal to get Duke’s Cooper Flagg in the draft. Here are the other updates after Friday’s games.

NBA Playoff Picture ahead of March 22 games

In the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets increased their lead for No. 2 with their victory over the Miami Heat. The Denver Nuggets fell to No. 4 with their loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, virtually tied with the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers. The Memphis Grizzlies fell a game behind the Nuggets after their loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Minnesota Timberwolves surpassed the New Orleans Pelicans, in a tie with the Clippers at No. 7. The Phoenix Suns beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to keep the tiebreaker for No. 10, two games back from the No. 9 Sacramento Kings. The Dallas Mavericks are tied with the Suns at No. 10 after beating the Detroit Pistons.

In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers' lead for No. 1 dropped to five games after their loss to the Suns. The Boston Celtics extended their lead for No. 2 with a win over the Utah Jazz. The Pistons' loss to the Mavs put them one game back from the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks. The Magic are now just one game behind the No. 7 Atlanta Hawks after beating the Wizards. The Heat fell a game behind the No. 9 Chicago Bulls after their loss to the Rockets. And as mentioned, the Wizards were eliminated from contention.

Teams that have clinched a playoff spot:

Western Conference

• Oklahoma City Thunder

Eastern Conference

• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Boston Celtics

Teams eliminated from contention:

Western Conference

• Utah Jazz
• New Orleans Pelicans

Eastern Conference

• Washington Wizards

Official standings ahead of Saturday’s games:

Western Conference

1. Cleveland Cavaliers, 56-14 (clinched playoff)
2. Boston Celtics, 51-19 (clinched playoff)
3. New York Knicks, 43-26
4. Indiana Pacers, 40-29
5. Milwaukee Bucks, 39-30
6. Detroit Pistons, 39-32
7. Atlanta Hawks, 33-36
8. Orlando Magic, 33-38
9. Chicago Bulls, 30-40
10. Miami Heat, 29-41
11. Toronto Raptors, 24-46
12. Brooklyn Nets,23-47
13. Philadelphia 76ers, 23-47
14. Charlotte Hornets, 18-52
15. Washington Wizards, 15-54 (eliminated)

Eastern Conference

1. Okahoma City Thunder, 58-12 (clinched playoff)
2. Houston Rockets, 46-25
3. Los Angeles Lakers, 43-26
4. Denver Nuggets, 44-27
5. Memphis Grizzlies, 43-28
6. Golden State Warriors, 41-29
7. Los Angeles Clippers, 40-30
8. Minnesota Timberwolves, 41-31
9. Sacramento Kings, 35-34
10. Phoenix Suns, 34-37
11. Dallas Mavericks, 34-37
12. Portland Trail Blazers, 32-39
13. San Antonio Spurs, 30-39
14. New Orleans Pelicans, 19-52 (eliminated)
15. Utah Jazz, 16-55 (eliminated)

NBA Playoff bracket

(After games played on March 21)

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Golden State Warriors

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons

(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks

SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament

(After games played on March 21)

Western Conference

(7) LA Clippers vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves

(9) Sacramento Kings vs. (10) Phoenix Suns

Eastern Conference

(7) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Orlando Magic

(9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Miami Heat

NBA Schedule, Saturday, March 22:

*all times listed in Eastern

• 5 p.m. Brooklyn Nets vs Indiana Pacers
• 7 p.m. Golden State Warriors vs Atlanta Hawks
• 8 p.m. Washington Wizards vs New York Knicks
• 10 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks vs Sacramento Kings
• 10:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Lakers

The Play-In Tournament will be from April 15-18 and the first round of the playoffs begins April 19. Game 1 of the NBA Finals will take place on June 5.

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