The 2023-24 NBA season is entering its final stretch and the 2024 NBA Playoffs are on the horizon. As close as the postseason may be, there is still plenty to be sorted out in the standings.
In the Eastern Conference, the Celtics appear to be running away with the No. 1 seed but that is the only certainty with less than six weeks remaining in the season. After Boston, everyone else is jockeying for position, with a few interesting races forming in the middle of the pack.
The Western Conference’s battle for the top seed is headlined by a trio of teams as the Timberwolves, Thunder and defending champion Nuggets each have an equal shot to finish first. The Clippers aren’t far behind and have also established a healthy lead over teams in the West’s Play-In Tournament picture, which sees six teams looking to fight for the last two guaranteed playoff spots.
Here’s an updated look at the standings and everything you need to know about the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
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NBA standings 2024
(Current as of March 4)
Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
| 1. | Celtics | 48-12 | – |
| 2. | Bucks | 41-21 | 8 |
| 3. | Cavaliers | 39-21 | 9 |
| 4. | Knicks | 36-25 | 12.5 |
| 5. | 76ers | 35-25 | 13 |
| 6. | Magic | 35-26 | 13.5 |
| 7. | Heat | 34-26 | 14 |
| 8. | Pacers | 34-28 | 15 |
| 9. | Bulls | 29-32 | 19.5 |
| 10. | Hawks | 26-34 | 22 |
| 11. | Nets | 24-37 | 24.5 |
| 12. | Raptors | 23-38 | 25.5 |
| 13. | Hornets | 15-46 | 33.5 |
| 14. | Pistons | 9-51 | 39 |
| 15. | Wizards | 9-52 | 39.5 |
Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
| 1. | Timberwolves | 43-19 | – |
| 2. | Thunder | 42-19 | 0.5 |
| 3. | Nuggets | 42-19 | 0.5 |
| 4. | Clippers | 39-21 | 3 |
| 5. | Pelicans | 36-25 | 6.5 |
| 6. | Suns | 35-26 | 7.5 |
| 7. | Kings | 34-26 | 8 |
| 8. | Mavericks | 34-27 | 8.5 |
| 9. | Lakers | 34-29 | 9.5 |
| 10. | Warriors | 32-28 | 10 |
| 11. | Jazz | 28-34 | 15 |
| 12. | Rockets | 26-34 | 16 |
| 13. | Grizzlies | 21-41 | 22 |
| 14. | Trail Blazers | 17-43 | 25 |
| 15. | Spurs | 13-48 | 29.5 |
NBA Playoff bracket 2024
Here’s what the NBA Playoff matchups would be if the regular season ended today:
Eastern Conference
(1) Celtics vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Bucks vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Cavaliers vs. (6) Magic
(4) Knicks vs. (5) 76ers
Western Conference
(1) Timberwolves vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Thunder vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Suns
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Pelicans
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NBA Play-In Tournament bracket 2024
These would be the NBA Play-In Tournament matchups if the regular season ended today:
Eastern Conference
(7) Heat vs. (8) Pacers
(9) Bulls vs. (10) Hawks
Western Conference
(7) Kings vs. (8) Mavericks
(9) Lakers vs. (10) Warriors
When do the NBA Playoffs start?
- Play-In Tournament: April 16-19
- NBA Playoffs: April 20
The 2023-24 NBA regular season ends on Sunday, April 14. The 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 16.
The first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs will start four days later on Saturday, April 20.
How will the 2024 NBA Playoffs work?
- The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots. Teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the Play-In Tournament.
- Each conference’s Nos. 7 and 8 teams will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
- Each conference’s Nos. 9 and 10 teams will face off, with the winner advancing to play 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 of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game and the winner of 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. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
- Beyond the Play-In Tournament, the 2024 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series through the NBA Finals.