2024 NBA standings update as at March 28

The NBA playoff race is reaching fever pitch as teams jostle for position in both the Western and Eastern Conferences. Here’s a breakdown of the latest moves in the standings:

Western Conference:

• The New Orleans Pelicans maintain their grip on the fifth seed after a crucial win over the Milwaukee Bucks, narrowing the gap to just half a game behind the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers. They also extend their lead to 1.5 games over the sixth-seeded Dallas Mavericks.

Eastern Conference:

• The Atlanta Hawks hold onto the tenth seed with a victory over the Boston Celtics, inching closer within one game of the ninth-seeded Chicago Bulls.
• The Milwaukee Bucks remain in the second seed despite a loss to the Pelicans, but their lead has been trimmed to 1.5 games over the third-seeded New York Knicks and 2 games over the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

2024 NBA Playoffs Bracket: If the regular season concluded after games played on March 28, here’s how the playoff bracket would shape up:

Western Conference:

1. Denver Nuggets vs. 8. Play-In Winner
2. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. 7. Play-In Winner
3. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 6. Dallas Mavericks
4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5. New Orleans Pelicans

Eastern Conference:

1. Boston Celtics vs. 8. Play-In Winner
2. Milwaukee Bucks vs. 7. Play-In Winner
3. New York Knicks vs. 6. Indiana Pacers
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Orlando Magic

2024 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament Bracket: If the regular season concluded after games played on March 28, the Play-In Tournament would feature the following matchups:

Western Conference: 7. Phoenix Suns vs. 8. Sacramento Kings

9. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 10. Golden State Warriors

Eastern Conference: 7. Miami Heat vs. 8. Philadelphia 76ers

9. Chicago Bulls vs. 10. Atlanta Hawks

The intensity of the playoff race continues to escalate as teams battle for seeding and postseason berths.