NBA playoff picture, standings: Phoenix Suns in Western Conference postseason fight
The NBA regular season is starting to wind down, but the race for the playoffs and postseason seeding is beginning to heat up.
Which teams will make the NBA playoffs, which begin with the first round on April 15?
How will the seeding play out?
What's the deal with the play-in tournament that runs from April 11-14?
Take a look at the NBA playoff picture and standings for each conference heading into Saturday's games, including the tight battle in the Western Conference, where just three games separate the fourth place Phoenix Suns and the 12th place Utah Jazz.
Western Conference standings:
1. Nuggets (49-24)
2. Grizzlies (46-27) 3 games back
3. Kings (44-29) 5 games back
4. Clippers (39-35) 10.5 games back
5. Suns (38-35) 11 games back
6. Warriors (39-36) 11 games back
7. Timberwolves (37-37) 12.5 games back
8. Lakers (37-37) 12.5 games back
9. Pelicans (36-37) 13 games back
10. Thunder (36-38) 13.5 games back
11. Mavericks (36-38) 13.5 games back
12. Jazz (35-38) 14 games back
13. Trail Blazers (32-41) 17 games back
14. Spurs (19-55) 30.5 games back
15. Rockets (18-56) 31.5 games back
More:Phoenix Suns have toughest remaining schedule of top 10 teams in Western Conference
Western Conference playoff picture (if postseason began today):
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. Golden State Warriors
4. LA Clippers vs. 5. Phoenix Suns
Western Conference Play-In Tournament:
7. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers
Winner of game advances as the No. 7 seed in Western Conference playoffs, while the loser plays the winner of Pelicans vs. Thunder game for the No. 8 seed.
9. New Orleans Pelicans vs. 10. Oklahoma City Thunder
Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Timberwolves vs. Lakers game for the No. 8 seed in Western Conference playoffs, while the loser is eliminated.
More:Phoenix Suns fans slam officiating, referees after loss to Los Angeles Lakers: 'No chance'
Eastern Conference standings:
1. Bucks (53-20)
2. Celtics (51-23) 2.5 games back
3. 76ers (49-24) 4 games back
4. Cavaliers (47-28) 7 games back
5. Knicks (42-33) 12 games back
6. Heat (40-34) 13.5 games back
7. Nets (39-34) 14 games back
8. Hawks (36-37) 17 games back
9. Raptors (36-38) 17.5 games back
10. Bulls (35-38) 18 games back
11. Pacers (33-41) 20.5 games back
12. Wizards (33-41) 20.5 games back
13. Magic (31-43) 22.5 games back
14. Hornets (24-51) 30 games back
15. Pistons (16-58) 37.5 games back
More: NBA playoff chase ramps up with just three weeks left
Eastern Conference playoff picture (if postseason began today):
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. Miami Heat
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. New York Knicks
Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament:
7. Brooklyn Nets vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks
Winner of game advances as the No. 7 seed in Eastern Conference playoffs, while the loser plays the winner of Raptors vs. Bulls game for the No. 8 seed.
9. Toronto Raptors vs. 10. Chicago Bulls
Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Nets vs. Hawks game for the No. 8 seed in Eastern Conference playoffs, while the loser is eliminated.
Saturday's NBA game schedule
Pacers at Nets, 2 p.m. MST
Nets at Heat, 5 p.m., MST
Bucks at Nuggets, 6 p.m., MST
Jazz at Kings, 7 p.m., MST
76ers at Suns, 7 p.m., MST
Pelicans at Clippers, 7:30 p.m., MST
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NBA playoff picture, standings, postseason seeds, matchups for 2023
