Skip to content

NBA playoff picture: Hawks and Mavericks clinch spots, Indiana on top of East

Jerome Miron / USA TODAY Sports

Two more pieces of the NBA playoff picture slid into place Saturday night, as a pair of teams captured spots with big performances in must-win games. 

In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks topped the Miami Heat 98-85, clinching the 8th and final playoff spot. With the loss, the Heat slipped out of the top spot, tying Indiana with a 54-26 record. The Pacers clinched the tiebreaker with a better record against the East, leaving them in control of their own destiny. 

Only seed is left up for grabs in the conference now, with Indiana and Miami, Chicago and Toronto, and Washington and Charlotte all capable of switching spots in the last week of the season. 

Seed Team W L GB
1 y - Indiana Pacers 54 26 --
2 y - Miami Heat 54 26 --
3 x - Chicago Bulls 47 32 6 ½
4 y - Toronto Raptors 46 33 7 ½
5 x - Brooklyn Nets 43 36 10 ½
6 x - Washington Wizards 42 38 12
7 x - Charlotte Bobcats 41 39 13
8 x - Atlanta Hawks 37 43 17

In the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks reserved their spot in the postseason thanks to a nail-biting 101-98 win over ninth-seeded Phoenix Suns. 

Dallas is now within a game of Golden State for the sixth seed, and also lead the eighth seeded Memphis by a game. Phoenix stands half a game back of the Grizzlies, and will have a shot to make up ground when it faces Memphis on Monday. 

The Houston Rockets moved themselves a game up on Portland for the fourth seed after a 111-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. 

Only one playoff spot remains in the entire league, and either Memphis or Phoenix will be on the outside looking in come Wednesday. 

Seed Team W L GB
1 z - San Antonio Spurs 62 18 --
2 y - Oklahoma City Thunder 58 21 3 ½
3 y - Los Angeles Clippers 56 24 6
4 x - Houston Rockets 53 27 9
5 x - Portland Trail Blazers 52 28 10
6 x - Golden State Warriors 49 30 12 ½
7 x - Dallas Mavericks 49 32 13 ½
8 Memphis Grizzlies 47 32 14 ½
9 Phoenix Suns 47 33 15

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox