How do ties work in the NBA standings? Explaining tiebreaker rules for the 2023 playoff picture

Jordan Greer

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How do ties work in the NBA standings? Explaining tiebreaker rules for the 2023 playoff picture image

By early April, the NBA Playoff picture has typically come into focus. That is not the case this year.

With each team down to the final games on their regular season schedules, there are several playoff and Play-In Tournament berths still up for grabs. That means postseason tiebreakers could be more important than usual.

What are the tiebreaker procedures? And which teams have already secured key tiebreakers ahead of the 2023 NBA Playoffs?

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Explaining NBA tiebreaker rules

Here are the tiebreakers when two teams have the same record, per the NBA:

  • Head-to-head record
  • Division leader over team not leading division
  • Higher winning percentage within division if teams share a division
  • Higher winning percentage in conference games
  • Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in own conference
  • Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in other conference
  • Higher point differential (points scored vs. points allowed)

Here are the tiebreakers when three teams have the same record, per the NBA:

  • Division leader over team not leading division
  • Head-to-head record
  • Higher winning percentage within division if teams share a division
  • Higher winning percentage in conference games
  • Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in own conference
  • Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in other conference
  • Higher point differential (points scored vs. points allowed)

NBA standings 2023

(Current as of March 31)

Eastern Conference

Seed Team Record Games Back
1. Bucks* 55-22 —
2. Celtics* 54-24 1.5
3. 76ers* 51-26 4
4. Cavaliers* 48-30 7.5
5. Knicks 45-33 10.5
6. Nets 42-35 13
7. Heat 40-37 15
8. Hawks 38-39 17
9. Raptors 38-39 17
10. Bulls 37-40 18
— Wizards 34-43 21
— Pacers 34-44 21.5
— Magic 33-44 22
— Hornets 26-52 29.5
— Pistons 16-61 39

*clinched NBA Playoff berth

Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Hornets, Pistons

Western Conference

Seed Team Record Games Back
1. Nuggets* 51-26 —
2. Grizzlies* 49-28 2
3. Kings* 47-30 4
4. Suns 42-35 9
5. Clippers 41-37 10.5
6. Warriors 41-37 10.5
7. Lakers 39-38 12
8. Pelicans 39-38 12
9. Timberwolves 39-39 12.5
10. Thunder 38-40 13.5
— Mavericks 37-40 14
— Jazz 36-41 15
— Trail Blazers 32-45 19
— Spurs 19-58 32
— Rockets 19-59 32.5

*clinched NBA Playoff berth

Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Rockets, Spurs, Trail Blazers

Key head-to-head tiebreakers for potential 2023 playoff teams

(Current as of March 31)

Eastern Conference

1. Bucks

  • vs. Celtics: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. 76ers: 1-2, one game left

2. Celtics

  • vs. Bucks: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. 76ers: Clinched tiebreaker

3. 76ers

  • vs. Bucks: 2-1, one game left
  • vs. Celtics: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Cavaliers: Clinched tiebreaker

4. Cavaliers

  • vs. 76ers: Lost tiebreaker

5. Knicks

  • vs. Nets: Split season series
  • vs. Heat: Clinched tiebreaker

6. Nets

  • vs. Knicks: Split season series
  • vs. Heat: Clinched tiebreaker

7. Heat

  • vs. Knicks: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Nets: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Hawks: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Raptors: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Bulls: Lost tiebreaker

8. Hawks

  • vs. Heat: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Raptors: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Bulls: 1-2, one game left

9. Raptors

  • vs. Heat: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Hawks: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Bulls: Clinched tiebreaker

10. Bulls

  • vs. Heat: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Hawks: 2-1, one game left
  • vs. Raptors: Lost tiebreaker

Western Conference

1. Nuggets

  • vs. Grizzlies: Clinched tiebreaker

2. Grizzlies

  • vs. Nuggets: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Kings: Split season series

3. Kings

  • vs. Grizzlies: Split season series

4. Suns

  • vs. Clippers: 2-1, one game left
  • vs. Warriors: Clinched tiebreaker

5. Clippers

  • vs. Suns: 1-2, one game left
  • vs. Warriors: Split season series

6. Warriors

  • vs. Suns: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Clippers: Split season series

7. Lakers

  • vs. Pelicans: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Timberwolves: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Thunder: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Mavericks: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Jazz: 0-2, two games left

8. Pelicans

  • vs. Lakers: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Timberwolves: 1-1, one game left
  • vs. Thunder: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Mavericks: Split season series
  • vs. Jazz: Lost tiebreaker

9. Timberwolves

  • vs. Lakers: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Pelicans: 1-1, one game left
  • vs. Thunder: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Mavericks: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Jazz: Split season series

10. Thunder

  • vs. Lakers: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Pelicans: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Timberwolves: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Mavericks: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Jazz: 2-1, one game left

11. Mavericks

  • vs. Lakers: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Pelicans: Split season series
  • vs. Timberwolves: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Thunder: Lost tiebreaker
  • vs. Jazz: Clinched tiebreaker

12. Jazz

  • vs. Lakers: 2-0, two games left
  • vs. Pelicans: Clinched tiebreaker
  • vs. Timberwolves: Split season series
  • vs. Thunder: 1-2, one game left
  • vs. Mavericks: Lost tiebreaker

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.