The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.
The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.
The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.
Western Conference
• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
• (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
• (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers
Eastern Conference
• (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
• (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Play-In Tournament
Western Conference
• (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 – 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
• (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 – 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
Eastern Conference
• (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 – 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
• (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 – 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)