With just over a month of NBA action remaining, there's still plenty to be decided in the race towards the playoffs as a number of teams look to avoid the play-in tournament and secure their playoff berth outright.
Here's a look at where the league's 30 teams currently stand and the probability each has of qualifying for the postseason.
NBA Playoff Probability (Eastern Conference)
Team | Current Record | % |
---|---|---|
Boston Celtics | 48-12 | 100 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 39-21 | 99.9 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 40-21 | 99.8 |
New York Knicks | 36-25 | 98 |
Philadelphia 76ers | 35-25 | 95.6 |
Orlando Magic | 35-26 | 95 |
Miami Heat | 34-26 | 88.7 |
Indiana Pacers | 34-28 | 80.8 |
Chicago Bulls | 28-32 | 20.4 |
Atlanta Hawks | 26-34 | 10.6 |
Brooklyn Nets | 24-36 | 10.2 |
Toronto Raptors | 23-38 | 1 |
Charlotte Hornets | 15-46 | 0 |
Detroit Pistons | 9-51 | 0 |
Washington Wizards | 9-51 | 0 |
Teams in bold are currently in a playoff position and teams in italic are in a play-in spot.
Favorite: Boston Celtics
At this point in time, it appears the only thing stopping the Boston Celtics from becoming champions is the Celtics themselves. They've reigned atop the Eastern Conference with a sizeable lead for the entirety of the campaign, and they just recently set an NBA record by winning three games by at least 50 points.
They're as close to unstoppable as one team can get. We may simply be counting down the days until the Larry O'Brien trophy returns to Beantown. That is, unless the Celtics shoot themselves in the foot.
Contender: Milwaukee Bucks
Don't look now, but the Milwaukee Bucks may have figured things out with Doc Rivers now in charge.
They're in the midst of a five-game winning streak which just so happens to coincide with a league-best defense during that span. Better late than never to get back to basics and become an elite defensive squad once again.
NBA Playoff Probability (Western Conference)
Team | Current Record | % |
---|---|---|
Oklahoma City Thunder | 42-18 | 100 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | 42-19 | 100 |
Denver Nuggets | 42-19 | 100 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 39-20 | 100 |
New Orleans Pelicans | 36-25 | 97.1 |
Sacramento Kings | 34-25 | 79.4 |
Dallas Mavericks | 34-27 | 68.9 |
Phoenix Suns | 35-26 | 61.4 |
Golden State Warriors | 32-28 | 60.3 |
Los Angeles Lakers | 33-29 | 29.7 |
Houston Rockets | 26-34 | 3.2 |
Utah Jazz | 27-34 | 0 |
Memphis Grizzlies | 20-41 | 0 |
Portland Trail Blazers | 17-42 | 0 |
San Antonio Spurs | 13-48 | 0 |
Teams in bold are currently in a playoff position and teams in italic are in a play-in spot.
Favorite: Minnesota Timberwolves
The rise of the Minnesota Timberwolves is a story many perhaps figured would have come back down to earth a long time ago.
Yet, with incredible coaching, a defense that continues to dominate, and elite scorers in Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, Minnesota still finds itself near the top of the West defying all odds and logic.
Contender: Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers know they just need to sneak in by any means necessary.
With LeBron James and Anthony Davis at the forefront, another deep run to at least the conference finals isn't out of the question. Not making a move of substance at the trade deadline may hinder their championship ceiling, mind you, but this team knows it can push most other teams to the brink as currently constructed.
Odds to make the nBA Playoffs
Team | Make Playoffs | Miss Playoffs |
---|---|---|
Atlanta Hawks | +570 | -950 |
Chicago Bulls | +310 | -420 |
Dallas Mavericks | -290 | +225 |
Golden State Warriors | -128 | +104 |
Indiana Pacers | -700 | +470 |
Los Angeles Lakers | -110 | -112 |
New Orleans Pelicans | -590 | +410 |
Philadelphia 76ers | -750 | +490 |
Phoenix Suns | -265 | +210 |
Sacramento Kings | -400 | +300 |
Note: If you're not seeing a particular team accounted for, it's because the odds are so incredibly one-sided in favor of a particular outcome that the option to put money down wouldn't be available.
Odds To Watch: Golden State Warriors, -128 To Make Playoffs
The Golden State Warriors has missed the playoffs only twice since 2013, and the two years it failed to qualify were the Bubble season as well as the following year which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many have projected their demise from afar, figuring the Stephen Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green core has run its course, and that may be true. However, as we've seen in the past, betting against Curry and company is unwise, and should they secure a play-in berth, beating Golden State in a one-off will prove mighty challenging.
NBA Win Totals
Team | Current Record | Last Season Record | OVER | UNDER |
---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta Hawks | 26-34 | 41-41 | 35.5 (-148) | 35.5 (+120) |
Boston Celtics | 48-12 | 57-25 | 64.5 (-162) | 64.5 (+132) |
Brooklyn Nets | 24-36 | 45-37 | 34.5 (+100) | 34.5 (-122) |
Charlotte Hornets | 15-46 | 27-55 | 19.5 (-115) | 19.5 (-105) |
Chicago Bulls | 28-32 | 40-42 | 38.5 (-102) | 38.5 (-120) |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 36-17 | 51-31 | 54.5 (+112) | 54.5 (-138) |
Dallas Mavericks | 34-27 | 38-44 | 47.5 (+114) | 47.5 (-140) |
Denver Nuggets | 42-19 | 53-29 | 56.5 (-158) | 56.5 (+128) |
Detroit Pistons | 9-51 | 17-65 | 14.5 (+102) | 14.5 (-124) |
Golden State Warriors | 32-28 | 44-38 | 45.5 (+116) | 45.5 (-142) |
Houston Rockets | 26-34 | 22-60 | 36.5 (-128) | 36.5 (+104) |
Indiana Pacers | 34-28 | 35-47 | 44.5 (-104) | 44.5 (-118) |
Los Angeles Clippers | 39-20 | 44-38 | 54.5 (-152) | 54.5 (+124) |
Los Angeles Lakers | 33-29 | 43-39 | 44.5 (+106) | 44.5 (-130) |
Memphis Grizzlies | 20-41 | 51-31 | 26.5 (-122) | 26.5 (+100) |
Miami Heat | 34-26 | 44-38 | 47.5 (-142) | 47.5 (+116) |
Milwaukee Bucks | 40-21 | 58-24 | 52.5 (-120) | 52.5 (-102) |
Minnesota Timberwolves | 42-19 | 42-40 | 55.5 (+104) | 55.5 (-128) |
New Orleans Pelicans | 36-25 | 42-40 | 47.5 (-150) | 47.5 (+124) |
New York Knicks | 36-25 | 47-35 | N/A | N/A |
Oklahoma City Thunder | 42-18 | 40-42 | 56.5 (-110) | 56.5 (-110) |
Orlando Magic | 35-26 | 34-48 | 46.5 (-162) | 46.5 (+132) |
Philadelphia 76ers | 35-25 | 54-28 | 44.5 (-108) | 44.5 (-114) |
Phoenix Suns | 35-26 | 45-37 | 46.5 (+108) | 46.5 (-132) |
Portland Trail Blazers | 17-42 | 33-49 | 23.5 (+108) | 23.5 (-132) |
Sacramento Kings | 34-25 | 48-34 | 47.5 (-114) | 47.5 (+-106) |
San Antonio Spurs | 13-48 | 22-60 | 18.5 (+126) | 18.5 (-154) |
Toronto Raptors | 23-38 | 41-41 | 29.5 (-112) | 29.5 (-108) |
Utah Jazz | 27-34 | 37-45 | 35.5 (+112) | 35.5 (-138) |
Washington Wizards | 9-51 | 35-47 | 14.5 (-138) | 14.5 (+112) |