2023 NBA Playoff Picture, Bracket: Updated standings, matchups, seeds

The race for one of the 16 spots in the 2023 NBA playoffs is coming down to the wire.

Here’s what the playoffs would look if the season ended today, April 5:

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Milwaukee Bucks** (Strength of schedule: 11th)
2. Boston Celtics* (SOS: 16th) — 3 GB
3. Philadelphia 76ers* (SOS: 12th) — 5 GB
4. Cleveland Cavaliers* (SOS: 30th) — 7.5 GB
5. New York Knicks* (SOS: 22nd) — 11 GB
6. Brooklyn Nets (SOS: 26th) — 14 GB
7. Miami Heat (SOS: 15th) — 15 GB 
8. Atlanta Hawks (SOS: 2nd) — 17 GB
9. Toronto Raptors^ (SOS: 1st) — 17 GB
10. Chicago Bulls^ (SOS: 19th) — 19 GB

EASTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET

1. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in
2. Boston Celtics vs. Winner of No. 7 seed play-in
3. Philadelphia 76ers vs. 6. Brooklyn Nets
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. New York Knicks

PLAY-IN GAMES

7. Miami Heat vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks

Winner advances as the No. 7 seed; loser plays the winner of Raptors-Bulls for the No. 8 seed.

9. Toronto Raptors vs. 10. Chicago Bulls

Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Heat-Hawks for the No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated from the Play-In Tournament.

DISQUALIFIED FROM POSTSEASON

Indiana Pacers
Washington Wizards
Orlando Magic
Charlotte Hornets
Detroit Pistons

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Denver Nuggets** (SOS: 10th)
2. Memphis Grizzlies** (SOS: 5th) — 2 GB
3. Sacramento Kings** (SOS: 8th) — 4 GB
4. Phoenix Suns* (SOS: 6th) — 8 GB
5. Golden State Warriors (SOS: 13th) — 10.5 GB
6. LA Clippers (SOS: 17th) — 11 GB
7. Los Angeles Lakers (SOS: 14th) — 11 GB
8. New Orleans Pelicans (SOS: 3rd) — 12 GB
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (SOS: 28th) — 12.5 GB
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (SOS: 9th) — 14.5 GB

WESTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET

1. Denver Nuggets vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in
2. Memphis Grizzlies vs Winner of No. 7 seed play-in
3. Sacramento Kings vs. 6. LA Clippers
4. Phoenix Suns vs. 5. Golden State Warriors

PLAY-IN GAMES

7. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. New Orleans Pelicans

Winner advances as the No. 7 seed; loser plays the winner of Wolves-Thunder for the No. 8 seed.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. 10. Oklahoma City Thunder

Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Lakers-Pelicans for the No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated from the Play-In Tournament.

IN CONTENTION

11. Dallas Mavericks (SOS: 23rd) — 15 GB
12. Utah Jazz (SOS: 7th) — 16 GB

DISQUALIFIED FROM POSTSEASON

Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs 
Houston Rockets

* Clinched playoff berth
** Clinched division
^ Play-In guaranteed

When do the 2023 NBA playoffs start?

The NBA playoffs start with the Play-In Tournament, which runs between April 11-14. Following that, the first round of the playoffs start on April 15. Play will continue until the NBA Finals begin on June 1.

How many teams make NBA playoffs?

Historically, 16 teams (the eight teams with the best records in each conference) comprise the NBA playoff teams. With the Play-In Tournament, four extra teams earn the chance play their way into the postseason.