Heading into the final day of the 2022-23 regular season, the Eastern Conference playoff bracket has already been finalized. Each postseason participant knows its seed.
Over in the Western Conference, though, there are still a few things to sort out. The top four playoff teams are locked into their current slots, but the rest of the standings are a bit messy.
What's at stake on Sunday? Here's a breakdown of the current NBA Playoff picture.
SIGN UP TO WATCH EVERY GAME ON NBA LEAGUE PASS: U.S. and U.K. | All other countries
What NBA games are on today?
All 30 NBA teams will play on the final day of the regular season. Eight games will start at 1 p.m. ET, and seven games will tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2022-23 NBA season on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Stream Sling Orange for $20 in your first month to catch all regular season games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.
SIGN UP FOR SLING: English | Spanish
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Hawks vs. Celtics | 1 p.m. | ESPN | Sling TV |
| 76ers vs. Nets | 1 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Hornets vs. Cavaliers | 1 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Magic vs. Heat | 1 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Pacers vs. Knicks | 1 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Bucks vs. Raptors | 1 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Rockets vs. Wizards | 1 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Pistons vs. Bulls | 1 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Spurs vs. Mavericks | 3:30 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Pelicans vs. Timberwolves | 3:30 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Grizzlies vs. Thunder | 3:30 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Kings vs. Nuggets | 3:30 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Jazz vs. Lakers | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN | Sling TV |
| Clippers vs. Suns | 3:30 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
| Warriors vs. Trail Blazers | 3:30 p.m. | — | NBA League Pass |
Today's NBA playoff clinching scenarios
On Friday, the NBA released the Western Conference playoff and Play-In Tournament scenarios. This chart is... yeah, it's a lot.
Updated Western Conference Playoff and Play-In scenarios through today's games.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 9, 2023
Seeds 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RBf48BWeHP
Here is the basic explanation of what could happen:
- No. 1 seed: Nuggets
- No. 2 seed: Grizzlies
- No. 3 seed: Kings
- No. 4 seed: Suns
- No. 5 seed: Clippers, Pelicans or Warriors
- No. 6 seed: Clippers, Lakers, Pelicans or Warriors
- No. 7 seed: Clippers, Lakers, Pelicans, Timberwolves or Warriors
- No. 8 seed: Lakers, Pelicans, Timberwolves or Warriors
- No. 9 seed: Pelicans or Timberwolves
- No. 10 seed: Thunder
Updated NBA standings 2023
(Current as of April 8)
Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bucks* | 58-23 | — |
| 2. | Celtics* | 56-25 | 2 |
| 3. | 76ers* | 53-28 | 5 |
| 4. | Cavaliers* | 51-30 | 7 |
| 5. | Knicks* | 47-34 | 11 |
| 6. | Nets* | 45-36 | 13 |
| 7. | Heat** | 43-38 | 15 |
| 8. | Hawks** | 41-40 | 17 |
| 9. | Raptors** | 40-41 | 18 |
| 10. | Bulls** | 39-42 | 19 |
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched Play-In Tournament berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Hornets, Magic, Pacers, Pistons, Wizards
Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nuggets* | 52-29 | — |
| 2. | Grizzlies* | 51-30 | 1 |
| 3. | Kings* | 48-33 | 4 |
| 4. | Suns* | 45-36 | 7 |
| 5. | Clippers | 43-38 | 9 |
| 6. | Warriors | 43-38 | 9 |
| 7. | Lakers | 42-39 | 10 |
| 8. | Pelicans | 42-39 | 10 |
| 9. | Timberwolves** | 41-40 | 11 |
| 10. | Thunder** | 39-42 | 13 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched Play-In Tournament berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Jazz, Mavericks, Rockets, Spurs, Trail Blazers
NBA Playoffs and Play-In Tournament bracket
The 2022-23 NBA regular season will end on Sunday, April 9. The 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 11.
The first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs will start four days later on Saturday, April 15.
How will the 2023 NBA Playoffs work?
- The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2022-23 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2023 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 2023 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals.
