Each Monday down the stretch, we'll take a look at the upcoming stretch for each team mathematically alive in the East and West playoff races, and break down what they need to do to stay alive in the postseason hunt. 
 EAST 
 1. Chicago Bulls (43-14) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Knicks, vs. Miami, at Detroit This week: No time to re-adjust for Derrick Rose, as the Bulls take on the Knicks and Heat at home after falling to New York on Sunday. Chicago needs to win at least a pair to hold on to the No. 1 seed for another week. 
 2. Miami Heat (40-15) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Boston, at Chicago, vs. Charlotte, at Knicks This week: The five-game home stand ends with a trip to Chicago. Tough week to sweep, but the Heat can't afford many more losses if they want home court throughout the East playoffs. 
 3. Indiana Pacers (34-22) Status: Clinging to home court Schedule: vs. Toronto, at Cleveland, vs. Cleveland, at Milwaukee This week: Indiana should be able to further distance itself from Atlanta the first three games of the week. Big match-up on the road against the Bucks on Saturday. 
 4. Boston Celtics (32-24) *division leader Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Miami, vs. Atlanta, at Toronto, at New Jersey, at Charlotte This week: This is where Boston can make a move for home court in the first round, four very winnable games to close out the week. (While seeded fourth, the Celtics will only have home court if they have a better record than the No. 5 seed.) 
 5. Atlanta Hawks (34-23) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Boston, at Orlando, vs. Toronto This week: Considering Indiana's soft schedule, it's imperative for Atlanta to finally pick up some wins against elite teams if they want the No. 3 seed. 
 6. Orlando Magic (33-23) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: vs. Detroit, at Washington, vs. Atlanta, at Cleveland This week: A good week for Orlando to avoid any sort of freefall. The home game against Atlanta is big when it comes to home court. 
 7. Knicks (29-27) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Chicago, at Milwaukee, vs. Washington, vs. Miami This week: No game is as big as the one in Milwaukee on Wednesday. A Knicks loss, and the Bucks own the tiebreaker between the two teams. 
 8. Philadelphia 76ers (29-27) Status: Trying to fight off collapse Schedule: at New Jersey, at Toronto, vs. New Jersey This week: There's no reason the Sixers shouldn't run the table this week. Then again, there's no reason they should have ever given up control of the Atlantic. 
<hr width="50%"> 
 9. Milwaukee Bucks (28-28) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Knicks, at Detroit, vs. Indiana This week: If the Bucks can split this week's tough schedule, they'll be set up well, their final two weeks dotted with several easy games. 
 10. Detroit Pistons (21-35) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: at Orlando, at Charlotte, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Chicago 
 11. New Jersey Nets (21-37) Status:&nbsp;Counting down to the offseason Schedule: vs. Philadelphia, at Philadelphia, vs. Boston 
 12. Toronto Raptors (20-37) Status:&nbsp;Counting down to the lottery Schedule: at Indiana, vs. Philadelphia, vs. Boston, at Atlanta 
 13. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-36) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. Charlotte, vs. Indiana, at Indiana, at Washington, vs. Orlando 
 Eliminated 
 14. Wasington Wizards (12-44) 
 15. Charlotte Bobcats (7-47) 
 WEST 
 1. San Antonio Spurs (40-14) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Utah, vs. Lakers, vs. Memphis, vs. Phoenix This week: Thursday's game against Memphis could be a preview of the West finals. Will be supremely difficult for San Antonio to end the week on a 15-game winning streak. 
 2. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-15) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Milwaukee, vs. Clippers, vs. Sacramento, at Minnesota This week: If the Thunder can split the week's first two games, they should cruise to a 3-1 week, and possibly back to the top seed. 
 3. Los Angeles Lakers (35-22) *division leader Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at New Orleans, at San Antonio, vs. Denver, vs. Dallas This week: Three of the Lakers' final five games are against either the Spurs or Thunder. Makes games like this week's final two all the more important to win in the Pacific Division race. 
 4. Los Angeles Clippers (34-22) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at Memphis, at Oklahoma City, at Minnesota, vs. Golden State This week: As locked in the Pacific Division battle as the Clippers are, Monday's road game in Memphis has big implications in the battle for home court in the first round. 
 5. Memphis Grizzlies (32-23) Status:&nbsp;Fighting for home court Schedule: vs. Clippers, vs. Phoenix, at San Antonio, vs. Utah, at New Orleans This week: A 3-2 record sets up the Grizzlies for a run at the No. 3 seed. After this week, Memphis can more or less cruise through a very easy remaining schedule. 
 6. Houston Rockets (31-25) Status:&nbsp;Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Portland, vs. Utah, vs. Phoenix, at Denver This week: Each game Houston's got this week has major playoff implications. The way Goran Dragic is playing, a 3-1 showing isn't out of the question. 
 7. Dallas Mavericks (31-26) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: vs. Sacramento, at Golden State, at Portland, at Lakers This week: After this week, all but one of the Mavericks' remaining opponents are above-.500. Important to walk away at least 3-1. 
 8. Denver Nuggets (30-26) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: vs. Golden State, vs. Minnesota, at Lakers, vs. Houston This week: Nuggets desperately need to take care of business against the Warriors and Wolves, then steal at least one against L.A. and the Rockets. 
<hr width="50%"> 
 9. Phoenix Suns (29-27) Status:&nbsp;Outside but in play Schedule: at Minnesota, at Memphis, at Houston, at San Antonio This week: Despite four wins in their last five games, the Suns are in dangerous territory this week. Anything less than two wins in four tough road games could push them as far down as 11th, probably out of playoff contention. 
 10. Utah Jazz (29-28) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: vs. San Antonio, at Houston, at New Orleans, at Memphis This week: It's been a while since the Jazz beat a team with a winning record. That doesn't bode well for this week. 
 11. Portland Trail Blazers (27-30) Status: Outside and not looking good Schedule: vs. Houston, vs. Golden State, vs. Dallas, at Sacramento This week: Anything less than 4-0, and the Blazers -- surprisingly still anywhere near the playoff hunt considering their trade deadline firesale -- will be prepping for the offseason. 
 12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-32) Status: Counting down to offseason Schedule: vs. Phoenix, at Denver, vs. Clippers, vs. Oklahoma City 
 13. Golden State Warriors (22-33) Status: Counting down to offseason Schedule: at Denver, at Portland, vs. Dallas, at Clippers 
 Eliminated 
 14. Sacramento Kings (19-38) 
 15. New Orleans Hornets (13-40)

Each Monday down the stretch, we'll take a look at the upcoming stretch for each team mathematically alive in the East and West playoff races, and break down what they need to do to stay alive in the postseason hunt. EAST 1. Chicago Bulls (43-14) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Knicks, vs. Miami, at Detroit This week: No time to re-adjust for Derrick Rose, as the Bulls take on the Knicks and Heat at home after falling to New York on Sunday. Chicago needs to win at least a pair to hold on to the No. 1 seed for another week. 2. Miami Heat (40-15) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Boston, at Chicago, vs. Charlotte, at Knicks This week: The five-game home stand ends with a trip to Chicago. Tough week to sweep, but the Heat can't afford many more losses if they want home court throughout the East playoffs. 3. Indiana Pacers (34-22) Status: Clinging to home court Schedule: vs. Toronto, at Cleveland, vs. Cleveland, at Milwaukee This week: Indiana should be able to further distance itself from Atlanta the first three games of the week. Big match-up on the road against the Bucks on Saturday. 4. Boston Celtics (32-24) *division leader Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Miami, vs. Atlanta, at Toronto, at New Jersey, at Charlotte This week: This is where Boston can make a move for home court in the first round, four very winnable games to close out the week. (While seeded fourth, the Celtics will only have home court if they have a better record than the No. 5 seed.) 5. Atlanta Hawks (34-23) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Boston, at Orlando, vs. Toronto This week: Considering Indiana's soft schedule, it's imperative for Atlanta to finally pick up some wins against elite teams if they want the No. 3 seed. 6. Orlando Magic (33-23) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: vs. Detroit, at Washington, vs. Atlanta, at Cleveland This week: A good week for Orlando to avoid any sort of freefall. The home game against Atlanta is big when it comes to home court. 7. Knicks (29-27) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Chicago, at Milwaukee, vs. Washington, vs. Miami This week: No game is as big as the one in Milwaukee on Wednesday. A Knicks loss, and the Bucks own the tiebreaker between the two teams. 8. Philadelphia 76ers (29-27) Status: Trying to fight off collapse Schedule: at New Jersey, at Toronto, vs. New Jersey This week: There's no reason the Sixers shouldn't run the table this week. Then again, there's no reason they should have ever given up control of the Atlantic. 9. Milwaukee Bucks (28-28) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Knicks, at Detroit, vs. Indiana This week: If the Bucks can split this week's tough schedule, they'll be set up well, their final two weeks dotted with several easy games. 10. Detroit Pistons (21-35) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: at Orlando, at Charlotte, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Chicago 11. New Jersey Nets (21-37) Status: Counting down to the offseason Schedule: vs. Philadelphia, at Philadelphia, vs. Boston 12. Toronto Raptors (20-37) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: at Indiana, vs. Philadelphia, vs. Boston, at Atlanta 13. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-36) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. Charlotte, vs. Indiana, at Indiana, at Washington, vs. Orlando Eliminated 14. Wasington Wizards (12-44) 15. Charlotte Bobcats (7-47) WEST 1. San Antonio Spurs (40-14) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Utah, vs. Lakers, vs. Memphis, vs. Phoenix This week: Thursday's game against Memphis could be a preview of the West finals. Will be supremely difficult for San Antonio to end the week on a 15-game winning streak. 2. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-15) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Milwaukee, vs. Clippers, vs. Sacramento, at Minnesota This week: If the Thunder can split the week's first two games, they should cruise to a 3-1 week, and possibly back to the top seed. 3. Los Angeles Lakers (35-22) *division leader Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at New Orleans, at San Antonio, vs. Denver, vs. Dallas This week: Three of the Lakers' final five games are against either the Spurs or Thunder. Makes games like this week's final two all the more important to win in the Pacific Division race. 4. Los Angeles Clippers (34-22) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at Memphis, at Oklahoma City, at Minnesota, vs. Golden State This week: As locked in the Pacific Division battle as the Clippers are, Monday's road game in Memphis has big implications in the battle for home court in the first round. 5. Memphis Grizzlies (32-23) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: vs. Clippers, vs. Phoenix, at San Antonio, vs. Utah, at New Orleans This week: A 3-2 record sets up the Grizzlies for a run at the No. 3 seed. After this week, Memphis can more or less cruise through a very easy remaining schedule. 6. Houston Rockets (31-25) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Portland, vs. Utah, vs. Phoenix, at Denver This week: Each game Houston's got this week has major playoff implications. The way Goran Dragic is playing, a 3-1 showing isn't out of the question. 7. Dallas Mavericks (31-26) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: vs. Sacramento, at Golden State, at Portland, at Lakers This week: After this week, all but one of the Mavericks' remaining opponents are above-.500. Important to walk away at least 3-1. 8. Denver Nuggets (30-26) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: vs. Golden State, vs. Minnesota, at Lakers, vs. Houston This week: Nuggets desperately need to take care of business against the Warriors and Wolves, then steal at least one against L.A. and the Rockets. 9. Phoenix Suns (29-27) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: at Minnesota, at Memphis, at Houston, at San Antonio This week: Despite four wins in their last five games, the Suns are in dangerous territory this week. Anything less than two wins in four tough road games could push them as far down as 11th, probably out of playoff contention. 10. Utah Jazz (29-28) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: vs. San Antonio, at Houston, at New Orleans, at Memphis This week: It's been a while since the Jazz beat a team with a winning record. That doesn't bode well for this week. 11. Portland Trail Blazers (27-30) Status: Outside and not looking good Schedule: vs. Houston, vs. Golden State, vs. Dallas, at Sacramento This week: Anything less than 4-0, and the Blazers -- surprisingly still anywhere near the playoff hunt considering their trade deadline firesale -- will be prepping for the offseason. 12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-32) Status: Counting down to offseason Schedule: vs. Phoenix, at Denver, vs. Clippers, vs. Oklahoma City 13. Golden State Warriors (22-33) Status: Counting down to offseason Schedule: at Denver, at Portland, vs. Dallas, at Clippers Eliminated 14. Sacramento Kings (19-38) 15. New Orleans Hornets (13-40)

Sports

Basketball

NBA playoff picture: Here comes Milwaukee

Each Monday down the stretch, we'll take a look at the upcoming stretch for each team mathematically alive in the East and West playoff races, and break down what they need to do to stay alive in the postseason hunt.

More NBA news

basketball article rail

Victor Wembanyama was battling a virus, rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter and does not believe he is playing his best.

Wembanyama overcomes illness, injury in historic outing as Spurs top Mavs for sixth straight win

Klay Thompson made the winning 3-pointer with a second left in overtime and the Miami Heat rallied for a 117-116 victory over the reeling Los Angeles Clippers.

Klay Thompson hits winning 3 with a second left in OT as Heat rally past skidding Clippers 117-116

Luka Doncic scored 40 points for his sixth straight game with at least 35, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 116-103.

Luka Doncic's 40 points lead the Lakers past the Kings 116-103

Victor Wembanyama scored a career-high 52 points and grabbed 24 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks 112-111.

Wembanyama has career highs of 52 points, 24 rebounds as Spurs hold off Mavericks 112-111

Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his third triple-double this season to lead the Denver Nuggets over the Toronto Raptors 128-109.

Jokic scores 32 in 3rd triple-double this season as Nuggets roll to 128-109 win over Raptors

More New York Sports

Sports Article Bottom Module

McCarthy's play, not his poise, will show if he can deliver while being calm in said moment.

Barnes: Is Giants' McCarthy ready for the biggest game of his NFL career in Philly?

They match a franchise record with 84 points before halftime. Jalen Brunson leads scores 33 points as Knicks move to 4-4.

Knicks offense goes full throttle in first half to defeat Bulls

Mike Brown believes Mikal Bridges will pull out of his early-season funk as he did in the Knicks' championship run.

Popper: Knicks coach Brown ignores notion of sitting Bridges

The Giants have not won in Philadelphia since 2013. Can Big Blue break that streak on Sunday? Evan Barnes reports.

Giants haven't won in Philadelphia since 2013

Sports articles trending links SATL

Watch highlights

Scores and stats

Columnists

App Nativo Ad Unit Slot

Basketball - megaslot

Complete coverage of the NBA with news, scores, analysis, standings & statistics.

More NBA news

Stay logged in.