NBA Playoffs clinching scenarios: Suns face elimination, Western Conference chaos, and more
The NBA regular season ends this Sunday, but most teams still have a lot to play for. Here are the clinching scenarios heading into Wednesday’s games.
The closer we get to the end of the NBA regular season, the higher the stakes for some teams still hoping to clinch a spot and others to at least make it to the Play-In. Here’s how things stand as we head into Wednesday night’s games.
NBA Playoff Scenarios - Wed. April 9
Western Conference
Phoenix Suns: The Suns are playing to avoid elimination. They face the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight and a loss will eliminate them from playoff contention. They also need the Dallas Mavericks to lose, as a win over the Los Angeles Lakers would eliminate the Suns as well.
Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks can clinch a spot in the Play-In Tournament with a win over the Lakers, or a Suns loss. If they lose to the Lakers, or if the Sacramento Kings win and the Suns lose, the Mavs will be locked into the No. 10 seed.
Sacramento Kings: The Kings can clinch the No. 9 seed with a win over the Denver Nuggets AND a Mavericks loss.
Current Standings:
- Oklahoma City Thunder, 65-14 (clinched playoff spot, clinched conference)
- Houston Rockets, 52-17 (clinched playoff spot, clinched division)
- Los Angeles Lakers, 48-31
- Los Angeles Clippers, 47-32
- Denver Nuggets, 47-32
- Golden State Warriors, 47-32
- Memphis Grizzlies, 47-32
- Minnesota Timberwolves, 46-33
- Sacramento Kings, 39-40
- Dallas Mavericks, 38-41
- Phoenix Suns, 35-44
- Portland Trail Blazers, 35-44
- San Antonio Spurs, 32-47
- New Orleans Pelicans, 21-58
- Utah Jazz, 16-63
Eastern Conference
Orlando Magic: The Magic can clinch a top-eight seed with a win over the Boston Celtics.
Current Standings:
- Cleveland Cavaliers, 63-16 (clinched playoff spot, clinched conference)
- Boston Celtics, 59-20 (clinched playoff spot, clinched division)
- New York Knicks, 50-29 (clinched playoff position)
- Indiana Pacers, 48-31 (clinched playoff position)
- Milwaukee Bucks, 45-34 (clinched playoff position)
- Detroit Pistons, 43-36 (clinched playoff position)
- Orlando Magic, 39-40 (clinched Play-In position)
- Atlanta Hawks, 37-42 (clinched Play-In position)
- Chicago Bulls, 36-43 (clinched Play-In position)
- Miami Heat, 36-43 (clinched Play-In position)
- Toronto Raptors, 29-50
- New York Knicks, 26-53
- Philadelphia 76ers, 23-56
- Charlotte Hornets, 19-60
- Washington Wizards, 17-62
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