The NBA playoffs are fast approaching, but there are still plenty of questions with less than three games remaining on each team’s regular season schedule.
The Suns and Grizzlies will be the top two seeds in the Western Conference bracket, but the rest of the West is up in the air. The Eastern Conference, meanwhile, has several teams grouped under the Heat in the standings.
NBA LEAGUE PASSES: Sign up to unlock live off-market games (7-day free trial)
The only thing we know? The last day of the regular season should offer plenty of entertainment.
Here’s a look at the current NBA playoff picture, including full standings for each conference.
NBA 2022 Rankings: Eastern Conference
(Ongoing until April 9 games)
| Seed | Team | Record | throwback games |
| 1. | Heat* | 53-28 | — |
| 2. | Deer* | 51-30 | 2 |
| 3. | Celtics* | 50-31 | 3 |
| 4. | 76ers* | 50-31 | 3 |
| 5. | Raptors* | 48-33 | 5 |
| 6. | Bulls* | 45-36 | 8 |
| 7. | Nets** | 43-38 | ten |
| 8. | Riders** | 43-38 | ten |
| 9. | Falcons** | 42-39 | 11 |
| ten. | Hornets** | 42-39 | 11 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*place in the NBA playoffs
**NBA play-in spot won
Eliminated from NBA Playoff competition: Knicks, Magic, Pacers, Pistons, Wizards
NBA 2022 Rankings: Western Conference
(Ongoing until April 9 games)
| Seed | Team | Record | throwback games |
| 1. | Suns* | 64-17 | — |
| 2. | Grizzlies* | 56-25 | 8 |
| 3. | Warriors* | 52-29 | 12 |
| 4. | Mavericks* | 51-30 | 13 |
| 5. | Jazz* | 48-33 | 16 |
| 6. | Nuggets | 48-33 | 16 |
| 7. | timber wolves | 46-35 | 18 |
| 8. | Mowers** | 40-40 | 23.5 |
| 9. | Pelicans** | 35-46 | 28 |
| ten. | Spurs** | 34-47 | 30 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*place in the NBA playoffs
**NBA play-in spot won
Eliminated from NBA Playoff competition: Kings, Lakers, Rockets, Thunder, Trail Blazers
2022 NBA playoff games
Here’s what the NBA Playoff matchups would be like if the regular season ended today:
Eastern Conference
(1) Heat vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Bucks vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Celtics vs. (6) Bulls
(4) 76ers vs. (5) Raptors
Western Conference
(1) Suns vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Grizzlies vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Warriors vs. (6) Nuggets
(4) Mavericks vs. (5) Jazz
2022 NBA Play-In Tournament Matches
Here’s what the NBA Play-In Tournament matchups would be like if the regular season ended today:
Eastern Conference
(7) Nets v (8) Cavs
(9) Falcons vs. (10) Hornets
Western Conference
(7) Timberwolves vs. (8) Clippers
(9) Pelicans vs. (10) Spurs
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
- The NBA Play-In tournament will be held after the end of the 2021-22 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Teams that finish 1-6 in each conference’s standings will be guaranteed playoff spots. playoffs. Teams 7-10 will enter the Play-In Tournament.
- The No. 7 and 8 teams from each conference will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have a chance to reach the playoffs.
- The No. 9 and No. 10 teams from each conference will face off, with the winner advancing to face the loser of No. 7 against No. 8 game. The loser of No. 9-vs.-No. 10 games will be eliminated from the playoffs.
- The loser of No. 7-vs.-No. 8 and winner of match no. 9 against no. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of this match will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from the playoffs.
- Beyond the Play-In Tournament, the 2022 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with complete best-of-seven series throughout the NBA Finals.
