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The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 12. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, remaining schedules and the stakes for<\/em> every day’s slate of games<\/em><\/a>. For those teams not in the postseason hunt, we also <\/em>break down the \u201crace\u201d for pole position in the upcoming NBA Draft lottery<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Jump to:<\/em><\/strong> Eastern Conference<\/em><\/a> \u2022 <\/em><\/strong>Western Conference<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n (7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers Advertisement<\/p>\n (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) play-in winner (1)\u00a0Oklahoma City Thunder\u00a0vs. (8) play-In winner In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed, and the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers appear bound for the next three seeds, in some order, and home-court advantage in the opening round.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Who, exactly, those four teams will play in the opening round is still up for grabs, as just two losses separate the fifth seed from the ninth seed. The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are all jockeying for position in the final days of the season.<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 58-22 | Net rating:<\/strong> 8.3 (3rd)<\/p>\n Clinched No. 1 seed and Central Division title<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule: <\/strong>@CHA, @IND<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> First-round matchup against No. 8 seed<\/p>\n Record: <\/strong>54-26 | Net rating:<\/strong> 8.2 (4th)<\/p>\n Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Knicks<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Magic number for No. 2 seed:<\/strong> 1<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule:<\/strong> NOP, ORL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Highest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 2 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Lowest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 3 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 52-28 | Net rating:<\/strong> 6.5 (5th)<\/p>\n Holds head-to-head tiebreakers over Celtics and Cavaliers<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Magic number for No. 3 seed:<\/strong> 1<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule:<\/strong> TOR, CHA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Highest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 2 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Lowest possible finish:<\/strong> No.4 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 51-29 | Net rating:<\/strong> 4.1 (9th)<\/p>\n Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Knicks<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule: <\/strong>@ATL, WAS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Highest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 3 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Lowest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 4 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 45-35 | Net rating:<\/strong> 2.2 (12th)<\/p>\n Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hawks, Hornets, Magic and Heat; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with 76ers<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Magic number for No. 5 seed:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule: <\/strong>@NYK, BKN<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Highest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 5 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Lowest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 8 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 45-35 | Net rating:<\/strong> 2.5 (11th)<\/p>\n Clinches playoff berth with win over Cavaliers<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Holds tiebreakers over 76ers and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreakers to Raptors and Hornets<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Magic number for No. 5 seed:<\/strong> Does not control own destiny<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule: <\/strong>CLE, @MIA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Highest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 5 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Lowest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 9 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 44-36 | Net rating:<\/strong> 0.0 (17th)<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Heat; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Hawks, Raptors, 76ers and Hornets<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Magic number for No. 8 seed:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule:<\/strong> @CHI, @BOS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Highest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 5 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Lowest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 9 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 43-36 | Net rating:<\/strong> -0.2 (18th)<\/p>\n Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Raptors, Hornets and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Hawks and Heat<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Magic number for No. 7 seed:<\/strong> 3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule: <\/strong>@HOU, @IND, MIL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Highest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 5 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Lowest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 10 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 43-37 | Net rating:<\/strong> 5.3 (6th)<\/p>\n Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hawks and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreaker to Raptors, 76ers and Heat<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Magic number for No. 9 seed:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Remaining schedule:<\/strong> DET, @NYK<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Highest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 5 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Lowest possible finish:<\/strong> No. 10 seed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n What\u2019s at stake:<\/strong> The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.<\/p>\n Record:<\/strong> 41-39 | Net rating:<\/strong> 2.1 (13th)<\/p>\n Locked into play-in tournament<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hornets and 76ers; loses head-to-head tiebreaker to Magic and Raptors<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\nCURRENT PLAY-IN BRACKET<\/h2>\n
Eastern Conference<\/h3>\n
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat<\/p>\nWestern Conference<\/h3>\n
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors<\/p>\nCURRENT PLAYOFF BRACKET<\/h2>\n
Eastern Conference<\/h3>\n
(2)\u00a0Boston Celtics\u00a0vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors<\/p>\nWestern Conference<\/h3>\n
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(4)\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets<\/p>\nEASTERN CONFERENCE RACE<\/h2>\n
Playoff-bound, seeding locked<\/h2>\n
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Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined<\/h2>\n
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Battling for guaranteed playoff spot<\/h2>\n
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Play-in bound, seeding to be determined<\/h2>\n
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