NBA Playoff Picture 📸

02/15/2023 NBA Playoff Picture 📸

By: Jeff Yoder

NBA’s Pre-All-Star Break Standings Before the Weekend Festivities

The NBA All-Star Weekend is fast approaching, and that gives us time to analyze the playoff situation heading into the All-Star break. Teams ebb and flow throughout the year, but roughly 25 games separate us from now and the playoffs in April. The East is still controlled by Boston and Milwaukee — who played a thriller last night (see below) — but the four top teams are in a dead heat in the final two months. Denver has pulled away and put a stranglehold on the West, but teams 2-13 are separated by just 9-10 games across the board. Anything can happen after the break, but All-Star Weekend signifies the 2/3 checkpoint in the season. Here’s where they stand heading down the stretch:

 

NBA Playoff Picture

 

Eastern Conference

1. Celtics (41-17)

2. Bucks (40-17)

3. 76ers (37-19)

4. Cavaliers (38-22)

5. Nets (33-24)

6. Heat (32-26)

7. Knicks (32-27)

8. Hawks (29-29)

9. Raptors (28-31)

10. Wizards (27-30)

 

In the Hunt: Bulls (26-31), Pacers (25-34), Magic (24-35)

Left in the Dust: Hornets (16-43), Pistons (15-43)

 

Western Conference

1. Nuggets (40-18)

2. Grizzlies (34-22)

3. Kings (32-25)

4. Suns (32-27)

5. Clippers (32-28)

6. Mavericks (31-28)

7. Pelicans (30-28)

8. Timberwolves (31-29)

9. Warriors (29-29)

10. Jazz (29-30)

 

In the Hunt: Blazers (28-30), Thunder (27-29), Lakers (28-32)

Left in the Dust: Spurs (14-44), Rockets (13-44)

 

NBA Highlights

 

Happy Holiday Hangs 40 in Bucks-Celtics OT Thriller

If Tuesday night in Milwaukee was an Eastern Conference Finals preview, sign me up. The Bucks and Celtics needed extra ball after Sam Hauser hit a game-tying 3 to force overtime. In the OT, Jrue Holiday (40 points) played hero with a clutch bucket to give the Bucks the win (131-125, OT).

 

Poeltl Goes for 30 in Raptors’ Win

Had you forgotten about Jakob Poeltl? We did, too. The Raptors acquired the big man they once drafted from the Spurs before the All-Star break, and he went for 30 points on 15-for-17 shooting in his third game with Toronto. The Raptors beat the Magic (123-113).

 

Kawhi Cashes in Career-High Seven 3s

The Clippers got back in the win column last night with a dub over the Dubs (134-124) thanks to 33 points from Kawhi Leonard, including a career-high seven 3s (7-for-9).

 

CP3 Throws 19 Dimes as Suns Shine Against Kings

No, Kevin Durant isn’t playing yet in Phoenix, but Chris Paul and company are still hot. The Suns topped the Kings last night (120-109) behind CP3’s 17 points and 19 assists, and Phoenix has now won seven of their last nine.

 

Bonus: Shaedon Sharpe Submits Dunk of the Year Nominee With Poster on Kyle Kuzma

 

Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images