The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 12. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, remaining schedules and the stakes for every day’s slate of games. And for those teams not in the postseason hunt, we also breakdown the “race” for the pole position in the upcoming NBA Draft lottery.

Jump to: Eastern Conference • Western Conference

CURRENT PLAY-IN BRACKETEastern Conference

(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Orlando Magic
(9) Miami Heat vs. (10) Charlotte Hornets

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Western Conference

(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

CURRENT PLAYOFF BRACKETEastern Conference

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) play-in winner
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) play-In winner
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets
(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Minnesota Timberwolves

EASTERN CONFERENCE RACE

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, in some order, appear bound for the top four playoff seeds and home-court advantage in the opening round. The Pistons, who hold a four-game lead on the Celtics, are almost certain to capture the East’s No. 1 seed, barring a complete meltdown in the absence of injured Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung).

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Who, exactly, those four teams will play in the opening round is up for grabs, as just two wins separate the fifth seed from the 10th seed. The Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat are all jockeying for position down the stretch of a season that has surpassed 70 games.

Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined

Record: 54-20 | Net rating: 8.3 (3rd)

Remaining schedule: @OKC, TOR, MIN, @PHI, @ORL, MIL, @CHA, @IND

Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Battling for guaranteed playoff spot

Record: (49-24) | Net rating: 7.8 (4th)

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Magic number for No. 2 seed: 8

Remaining schedule: @CHA, @ATL, @MIA, @MIL, TOR, CHA, @NYK, NOP, ORL

Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Record: 48-26 | Net rating: 6.6 (5th)

Magic number for No. 3 seed: 7

Remaining schedule: @OKC, @HOU, @MEM, CHI, @ATL, BOS, TOR, CHA

Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Record: 46-28 | Net rating: 4.2 (8th)

Magic number for No. 4 seed: 5

Remaining schedule: @UTA, @LAL, @GSW, IND, @MEM, ATL, @ATL, WAS

Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Record: 41-32 | Net rating: 1.8 (12th)

Magic number for No. 5 seed: 9

Remaining schedule: ORL, @DET, SAC, @MEM, @BOS, MIA, MIA, @NYK, BKN

Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 42-33 | Net rating: 1.7 (13th)

Magic number for No. 6 seed: 7

Remaining schedule: BOS, @ORL, @BKN, NYK, @CLE, CLE, @MIA

Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

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Record: 41-33 | Net rating: -0.3 (19th)

Magic number for No. 7 seed: 8

Remaining schedule: @MIA, @WAS, MIN, DET, @SAS, @HOU, @IND, MIL

Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 39-34 | Net rating: 0.8 (17th)

Magic number for No. 8 seed: 9

Remaining schedule: @TOR, PHX, ATL, @DAL, @NOP, DET, MIN, @CHI, @BOS

Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 39-35 | Net rating: 2.3 (11th)

Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control own destiny

Remaining schedule: @IND, PHI, BOS, WAS, @TOR, @TOR, @WAS, ATL

Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Record: 39-35 | Net rating: 4.7 (6th)

Magic number for No. 9 seed: 8

Remaining schedule: BOS, @BKN, PHX, IND, @MIN, @BOS, DET, @NYK

Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.

Sunday’s games of consequence

Celtics can clinch a top-four seed and home-court advantage in the first round with a win

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Knicks can clinch guaranteed playoff berth with a win

WESTERN CONFERENCE RACE

Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are bound for the top two seeds, as OKC holds a two-game lead for the league’s No. 1 overall seed.

The Los Angeles Lakers are favorites to capture the West’s No. 3 seed. Beyond them is anyone’s guess.

The Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, all but guaranteed the West’s final three guaranteed playoff spots, are separated by one loss. Only one of those teams will earn home-court advantage in the first round.

The four teams for the conference’s play-in tournament field is almost set with the Memphis Grizzlies’ elimination. The Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors appear headed for the Nos. 7-10 seeds.

Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined

Record: 58-16 | Net rating: 11.0 (1st)

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Remaining schedule: NYK, DET, LAL, UTA, @LAL, @LAC, @DEN, PHX

Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 2 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Record: 56-18 | Net rating: 8.3 (2nd)

Magic number for No. 1 seed: Do not control own destiny

Remaining schedule: CHI, @GSW, @LAC, @DEN, PHI, POR, DAL, DEN

Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 2 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Battling for guaranteed playoff spot

Record: 48-26 | Net rating: 1.5 (14th)

Magic number for No. 3 seed: 6

Remaining schedule: WAS, CLE, @OKC, @DAL, OKC, @GSW, PHX, UTA

Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Record: 47-28 | Net rating: 4.4 (7th)

Magic number for No. 4 seed: 6

Remaining schedule: GSW, @UTA, SAS, POR, MEM, OKC, @SAS

Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 7 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Record: 45-29 | Net rating: 3.3 (10th)

Magic number for No. 5 seed: 8

Remaining schedule: @DAL, @DET, @PHI, CHA, @IND, @ORL, @HOU, NOP

Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

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Record: 44-29 | Net rating: 4.0 (9th)

Magic number for No. 6 seed: 6

Remaining schedule: @NOP, NYK, MIL, UTA, @GSW, @PHX, PHI, MIN, MIN

Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Record: 41-33 | Net rating: 1.4 (15th)

Magic number for No. 7 seed: 6

Remaining schedule: @MEM, @ORL, @CHA, @CHI, HOU, DAL, @LAL, @OKC

Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 7 seed and home-court advantage against the No. 8 seed in their opening game of the play-in tournament.

Record: 38-36 | Net rating: 1.3 (16th)

Magic number for No. 8 seed: 7

Remaining schedule: @MIL, POR, SAS, @SAC, DAL, OKC, @POR, GSW

Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.

Record: 37-38 | Net rating: -1.3 (20th)

Magic number for No. 9 seed: 7

Remaining schedule: WAS, @LAC, NOP, @DEN, @SAS, LAC, SAC

Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.

Record: 36-38 | Net rating: 0.3 (18th)

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Magic number for No. 9 seed: 8

Remaining schedule: @DEN, SAS, CLE, HOU, SAC, LAL, @SAC, @LAC

Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed

Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed

What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.

Sunday’s games of consequence