NBA Playoff Picture: NBA Playoff Bracket if Season Ended Today

Zachary Cook

Multiple NBA teams are looking to contend for the championship, while others are just looking to qualify for the postseason.

Whether it’s the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, or Milwaukee Bucks, the playoffs aren’t the end goal, while others, such as the Sacramento Kings or Indiana Pacers, are hoping to sneak in and do damage.

NBA Playoff Picture: NBA Playoff Bracket if Season Ended Today

Eastern Conference

Team	Seed
Boston Celtics (29-12)	1
Brooklyn Nets (27-13)	2
Milwaukee Bucks (26-14)	3
Philadelphia 76ers (25-15)	4
Cleveland Cavaliers (26-16)	5
Indiana Pacers (23-18)	6

Play-In Round Matchup
#7 New York Knicks (22-19)	#10 Chicago Bulls (19-22)
#8 Miami Heat (22-20)	#9 Atlanta Hawks (19-21)

Western Conference

Team	Seed
Denver Nuggets (27-13)	1
Memphis Grizzlies (27-13)	2
New Orleans Pelicans (25-16)	3
Dallas Mavericks (23-19)	4
Sacramento Kings (21-18)	5
Los Angeles Clippers (22-21)	6

Play-In Round Matchup
#7 Phoenix Suns (21-21)	#10 Utah Jazz (21-23)
#8 Golden State Warriors (20-21)	#9 Minnesota Timberwolves (20-21)

The Boston Celtics have continued trucking along as the top team in the NBA, still boasting the league’s best record at 29-12. The C’s won three straight games over the last week and found some positive rhythm, putting them in a good spot through the first stretch of the new year. One team closing the gap in the standings has been the Brooklyn Nets, who’ve put together a 2-1 sample over the last week and are still 9-1 over their previous ten. It wasn’t all good news for the Nets, with superstar forward Kevin Durant sidelined with a knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. The Nets have some depth and the potential to stay afloat amid the injury, but it’s still something to keep an eye on here.

Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets, along with Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, have exchanged blows atop the Western Conference, currently with identical 27-13 records. The Grizzlies have won seven straight games, including recent defeats of the Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, and San Antonio Spurs. Denver put together three consecutive wins over the last week, compiling victories over the Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers. In addition to the Nuggets and Grizzlies fighting at the top, the Minnesota Timberwolves are making some noise at the bottom of the playoff race and have now won four straight games heading into action on Wednesday night.

When are the 2023 NBA Playoffs?

The NBA regular season concludes on April 9, 2023, while the play-in round kicks off on April 11 and runs until April 14. The NBA playoffs will begin on April 15, with the Finals concluding on June 18, 2023, if necessary.