How Will The 2023 NBA Playoffs Work: Updated Dates, Standings & Bracket
The race for one of the 16 spots in the 2023 NBA Playoffs is coming down to the wire with so many teams still in contention in the final few weeks of the regular season, but the postseason bracket is still very much in a state of flux.
When do the NBA Playoffs start and 2023 NBA Playoffs Key Dates?
- April 11-14: NBA Play-In Tournament 2023
- April 15: NBA Playoffs 2023 begin
- May 1-2: NBA Conference Semifinals begin (possible move-up to April 29-30)
- May 16-17: NBA Conference Finals begin (possible move-up to May 14-15)
- June 1: NBA Finals 2023 Game 1
- June 1: NBA Finals 2023 Game 1
- June 4: NBA Finals 2023 Game 2
- June 7: NBA Finals 2023 Game 3
- June 9: NBA Finals 2023 Game 4
- June 12: NBA Finals 2023 Game 5 (if necessary)
- June 15: NBA Finals 2023 Game 6 (if necessary)
- June 18: NBA Finals 2023 Game 7 (if necessary)
How will the 2023 NBA Playoffs work?
When the regular season in 2022–23 ends and before the opening round of the NBA Playoffs in 2023, the NBA Play-In Tournament will take place. The top six clubs in each conference’s standings will get automatic playoff participation. The Play-In Tournament will be open to teams ranked 7–10.
The No. 7 and No. 8 teams in each conference will compete, with the victor securing the No. 7 seed in the postseason. The losing team will still have a chance to make the playoffs.
Seeing that a lot of NBA fans like to ignore the 2021 season when the Grizzlies knocked out the Warriors from playoff contention.
You don’t have to call it a rivalry but you can’t say Memphis has never won. pic.twitter.com/EhXBVvrMSN
— GrizzMuse (@GrizzlyMuse) March 10, 2023
The No. 9 and No. 10 teams in each conference will compete, with the victor moving on to face the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 match. The loser of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 match will not be eligible for the playoffs.
Next, the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 match and the victor of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 match will square off. The winner of that contest will receive the eighth playoff seed. The loser will no longer be eligible for the playoffs.
The 2023 NBA Playoffs will follow the customary structure after the Play-In Tournament, with complete best-of-seven series up until the NBA Finals.
There is concern within the Suns’ organization that Kevin Durant has a grade 2 sprain and could miss the remainder of the regular season and potentially the start of the playoffs, per @azcentral pic.twitter.com/QSQ4CfPWuI
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 9, 2023
NBA standings 2023
(Current as of April 8)
Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bucks* | 58-23 | — |
| 2. | Celtics* | 56-25 | 2 |
| 3. | 76ers* | 53-28 | 5 |
| 4. | Cavaliers* | 51-30 | 7 |
| 5. | Knicks* | 47-34 | 11 |
| 6. | Nets* | 45-36 | 13 |
| 7. | Heat** | 43-38 | 15 |
| 8. | Hawks** | 41-40 | 17 |
| 9. | Raptors** | 40-41 | 18 |
| 10. | Bulls** | 39-42 | 19 |
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched Play-In Tournament berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Hornets, Magic, Pacers, Pistons, Wizards
Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nuggets* | 52-29 | — |
| 2. | Grizzlies* | 51-30 | 1 |
| 3. | Kings* | 48-33 | 4 |
| 4. | Suns* | 45-36 | 7 |
| 5. | Clippers | 43-38 | 9 |
| 6. | Warriors | 43-38 | 9 |
| 7. | Lakers | 42-39 | 10 |
| 8. | Pelicans | 42-39 | 10 |
| 9. | Timberwolves** | 41-40 | 11 |
| 10. | Thunder** | 39-42 | 13 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched Play-In Tournament berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Jazz, Mavericks, Rockets, Spurs, Trail Blazers
NBA Playoff bracket 2023
Here’s what the NBA Playoff matchups would be if the regular season ended today:
Eastern Conference
(1) Bucks vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) 76ers vs. (6) Nets
(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Knicks
Western Conference
(1) Nuggets vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Grizzlies vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Kings vs. (6) Warriors
(4) Suns vs. (5) Clippers
NBA Play-In Tournament bracket 2023
Here’s what the NBA Play-In Tournament matchups would be if the regular season ended today:
Eastern Conference
(7) Heat vs. (8) Hawks
(9) Raptors vs. (10) Bulls
Western Conference
(7) Lakers vs. (8) Pelicans
(9) Timberwolves vs. (10) Thunder
Los @Lakers se acercan a puestos de Playoffs 💜💛#NBAxESPN pic.twitter.com/e9oDY5dIsO
— NBA Latam (@NBALatam) March 11, 2023
📈 Se huele el Playoff…🫣 pic.twitter.com/EPIWbk8LNv
— Mundo Lakers (@MundoLakersNBA) March 11, 2023
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