NBA standings: Seeding scenarios, breakdown for final spots in 2021 playoffs
Brace yourselves, basketball fans. The 2021 NBA playoffs are almost here.
There is an added level of intrigue this year with the league implementing a new version of the play-in tournament, which was first seen inside the Florida “bubble” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the traditional eight-team fields in each conference, a total of 20 teams will participate in the postseason.
MORE: Latest standings | Daily NBA schedule
With multiple contenders battling for playoff positioning, the final stretch of the regular season should provide plenty of entertainment.
Here’s a snapshot of the current NBA playoff picture, including the full standings for each conference.
NBA standings 2021: Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | 76ers* | 47-21 | — |
| 2. | Nets* | 44-24 | 3 |
| 3. | Bucks* | 43-24 | 3.5 |
| 4. | Knicks | 37-30 | 9.5 |
| 5. | Hawks | 37-31 | 10 |
| 6. | Heat | 36-31 | 10.5 |
| 7. | Celtics | 35-32 | 11.5 |
| 8. | Hornets | 33-34 | 13.5 |
| 9. | Wizards | 32-36 | 15 |
| 10. | Pacers | 31-36 | 15.5 |
| — | Bulls | 28-39 | 18.5 |
| — | Raptors | 27-41 | 20 |
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*clinched playoff berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Cavaliers, Magic, Pistons
NBA standings 2021: Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Jazz* | 50-18 | — |
| 2. | Suns* | 48-19 | 1.5 |
| 3. | Clippers* | 45-22 | 4.5 |
| 4. | Nuggets* | 44-24 | 6 |
| 5. | Mavericks | 39-28 | 10.5 |
| 6. | Trail Blazers | 39-29 | 11 |
| 7. | Lakers | 37-30 | 12.5 |
| 8. | Warriors | 35-33 | 15 |
| 9. | Grizzlies | 34-33 | 15.5 |
| 10. | Spurs | 32-35 | 17.5 |
| — | Pelicans | 30-37 | 19.5 |
| — | Kings | 29-38 | 20.5 |
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*clinched playoff berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Rockets, Thunder, Timberwolves
How does the NBA play-in tournament work?
- The play-in tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2020-21 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots, and teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the play-in tournament.
- The No. 7 team will face the No. 8 team, and the winner will earn the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
- The No. 9 team will face the No. 10 team, and the winner will advance to play against the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.
- The loser from the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game and the winner from the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs, and the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
NBA playoff picture: Seeding breakdowns
(Remaining strength of schedule via Tankathon and playoff probability via FiveThirtyEight)
Eastern Conference
1. 76ers
Remaining games: 4
Remaining strength of schedule: .407
Playoff probability: In
2. Nets
Remaining games: 4
Remaining strength of schedule: .407
Playoff probability: In
3. Bucks
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .442
Playoff probability: In
4. Knicks
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .543
Playoff probability: 96 percent
5. Hawks
Remaining games: 4
Remaining strength of schedule: .373
Playoff probability: 99 percent
6. Heat
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .534
Playoff probability: 98 percent
7. Celtics
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .448
Playoff probability: 98 percent
8. Hornets
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .558
Playoff probability: 56 percent
9. Wizards
Remaining games: 4
Remaining strength of schedule: .474
Playoff probability: 30 percent
10. Pacers
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .519
Playoff probability: 22 percent
Western Conference
1. Jazz
Remaining games: 4
Remaining strength of schedule: .458
Playoff probability: In
2. Suns
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .519
Playoff probability: In
3. Clippers
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .396
Playoff probability: In
4. Nuggets
Remaining games: 4
Remaining strength of schedule: .415
Playoff probability: In
5. Mavericks
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .393
Playoff probability: 99 percent
6. Trail Blazers
Remaining games: 4
Remaining strength of schedule: .583
Playoff probability: 99 percent
7. Lakers
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .482
Playoff probability: 96 percent
8. Warriors
Remaining games: 4
Remaining strength of schedule: .602
Playoff probability: 59 percent
9. Grizzlies
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .482
Playoff probability: 36 percent
10. Spurs
Remaining games: 5
Remaining strength of schedule: .655
Playoff probability: 8 percent