It’s the final week of the NBA regular season, meaning it’s crunch time for teams battling for playoff positioning. And there are big battles across both conferences, with just a handful of games left before the postseason begins with the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14.
Only one thing is certain at this point: the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. But there are a few games on the Monday, April 6 slate that could play a key role in determining who lands where on the playoff bracket.
The night began with a crucial matchup in Atlanta, pitting the New York Knicks, the current No. 3 seed in the East, against the red-hot Hawks, who currently hold the No. 5 seed. The San Antonio Spurs, who still have a chance to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the West, hosted the Philadelphia 76ers, who are trying to hang on to the sixth seed in the East. The night concluded with a Northest division matchup between the Denver Nuggets, seeking to move into a top-three seed, and the Portland Trail Blazers, who sit in the No. 9 seed.
Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the results for games of Monday, April 6:
NBA schedule for Monday, April 6
All time Eastern
New York Knicks 108, Atlanta Hawks 105
Orlando Magic 123, Detroit Pistons 107
Cleveland Cavaliers 142, Memphis Grizzlies 126
San Antonio Spurs 115, Philadelphia 76ers 102
Denver Nuggets 137, Portland Trail Blazers 132 (OT)
NBA standings
All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records through games on Monday, April 6, and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division; y-clinched conference):
Eastern Conference
(1) y-Detroit Pistons: 57-22
(2) x-Boston Celtics: 53-25 (3.5 GB)
(3) x-New York Knicks: 51-28 (6 GB)
(4) x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 50-29 (7 GB)
(5) Atlanta Hawks: 45-34 (12 GB)
(6) Toronto Raptors: 43-35 (14 GB)
(6) Philadelphia 76ers: 43-36 (14 GB)
(8) Charlotte Hornets: 43-36 (14 GB)
(9) Orlando Magic: 43-36 (14 GB)
(10) Miami Heat: 41-37 (15.5 GB)
Western Conference
(1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 62-16
(2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 60-19 (2.5 GB)
(3) x-Denver Nuggets: 51-28 (11.5 GB)
(4) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-28 (12 GB)
(5) x-Houston Rockets: 49-29 (13 GB)
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-32 (16 GB)
(7) Phoenix Suns: 43-35 (19 GB)
(8) Los Angeles Clippers: 40-38 (22 GB)
(9) Portland Trail Blazers: 40-39 (22.5 GB)
(10) Golden State Warriors: 36-42 (26 GB)
NBA playoffs bracket
(Through games on Monday, April 6)
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
NBA Play-In Tournament
(Through games on Monday, April 6)
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
(9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
When do the NBA playoffs begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.
Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?
Eastern Conference
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Washington Wizards
Western Conference
Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
Sacramento Kings
Utah Jazz
