The 2023-24 NBA regular season will come to a close Sunday, April 14 with all 30 teams in action. The Eastern Conference playoff and play-in tournament picture remains largely unclear heading into the final day of games, with only three teams locked into their spots. The Celtics have the No. 1 seed and the best record in the league, while the Bulls and Hawks are locked into the 9-10 play-in game which will take place Wednesday, April 17 in Chicago.
Here’s a look at the playoff, play-in tournament and seeding scenarios for the remaining teams in contention in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
If the Bucks win against the Magic Sunday, they are the No. 2 seed in the East no matter what the Knicks and Cavaliers do. If all of Milwaukee, New York and Cleveland lose, the Bucks are still the No. 2 seed. The Knicks are the No. 3 seed and the Cavaliers are the No. 4 seed in all scenarios where Milwaukee wins, regardless of their results.
If the Bucks lose and both the Knicks and Cavaliers win, New York is the No. 2 seed and Cleveland is the No. 3 seed. Milwaukee would be the No. 4 seed. If the Knicks win but the Bucks and Cavaliers both lose, New York is the No. 2 seed, Milwaukee is the No. 3 seed and Cleveland is the No. 4 seed. If the Cavaliers win and both the Bucks and Knicks lose, Cleveland is the No. 2 seed, Milwaukee is the No. 3 seed and New York is the No. 4 seed.
Bucks seed possibilities
No. 2 seed: 5
No. 3 seed: 2
No. 4 seed: 1
Most likely seed: No. 2 (62.5% chance)
Knicks seed possibilities
No. 2 seed: 2
No. 3 seed: 5
No. 4 seed: 1
Most likely seed: No. 3 (62.5% chance)
Cavaliers seed possibilities
No. 2 seed: 1
No. 3 seed: 1
No. 4 seed: 6
Most likely seed: No. 4 (75% chance)
Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat
All four teams are still in the mix for an automatic playoff spot but only two will those spots while the other two will go to the play-in tournament. If the Magic and Pacers win, they secure an automatic playoff spot regardless of what the 76ers and Heat do. Orlando can secure a playoff spot if it loses, Miami loses and one of Indiana/Philadelphia loses. The Pacers can clinch a playoff spot if they lose as long as one of Philadelphia/Miami loses and Orlando wins. If all four teams lose, the Magic and Pacers get the playoff spots.
If the 76ers win, they will need one of the Pacers and Magic to lose to clinch an automatic playoff berth. For the Heat to clinch a playoff berth, they’ll need to win while needing Orlando and one of Indiana/Philadelphia to lose. If the Magic win, Miami is locked into the play-in tournament regardless of what the Pacers and 76ers do.
Magic seed possibilities
No. 5 seed: 7
No. 6 seed: 3
No. 7 seed: 3
No. 8 seed: 3
Most likely seed: No. 5 (43.75% chance)
Pacers seed possibilities
No. 5 seed: 4
No. 6 seed: 7
No. 7 seed: 4
No. 8 seed: 1
Most likely seed: No. 6 (43.75% chance)
76ers seed possibilities
No. 5 seed: 4
No. 6 seed: 4
No. 7 seed: 6
No. 8 seed: 2
Most likely seed: No. 7 (37.5% chance)
Heat seed possibilities
No. 5 seed: 1
No. 6 seed: 2
No. 7 seed: 3
No. 8 seed: 10
Most likely seed: No. 8 (62.5% chance)