The NBA Playoff picture could become much clearer on Tuesday night.
While seedings are still up in the air in both conferences, multiple teams could earn postseason berths depending on the results of Tuesday’s games. It’s also possible the Eastern and Western Conference Play-In Tournament fields are solidified once the final buzzer sounds.
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However, perhaps the biggest development of the evening could be an elimination. The Lakers are hoping to make a miracle run at the Play-In Tournament, but they are facing an uphill climb after Sunday’s loss against the Nuggets, which pushed their losing streak to six games.
Here are the latest clinching scenarios, plus an updated look at the standings in the East and West.
NBA Playoffs 2022: Clinching scenarios for Tuesday, April 5
Eastern Conference
- The Hawks are locked into the Play-In Tournament with a loss.
- The Bulls clinch an NBA Playoff spot with a win OR a Cavaliers loss.
- The Cavaliers are locked into the Play-In Tournament with a loss AND a Raptors win.
- The Bucks clinch a division title with a win.
- The Raptors clinch an NBA Playoff spot with a win AND a Cavaliers loss.
Western Conference
- The Nuggets clinch an NBA Playoff spot with a win AND a Timberwolves loss.
- The Lakers are eliminated with a loss AND a Spurs win.
- The Timberwolves are locked into the Play-In Tournament with a loss AND wins by the Nuggets and Jazz.
- The Pelicans are locked into the Play-In Tournament with a win OR a Lakers loss.
- The Spurs are locked into the Play-In Tournament with a win AND a Lakers loss.
- The Jazz clinch an NBA Playoff spot with a win AND a Timberwolves loss.
NBA standings 2022: Eastern Conference
(Current through April 3 games)
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Heat* | 51-28 | — |
| 2. | Celtics* | 49-30 | 2 |
| 3. | Bucks* | 48-30 | 2.5 |
| 4. | 76ers* | 48-30 | 2.5 |
| 5. | Bulls | 45-33 | 5.5 |
| 6. | Raptors | 45-33 | 5.5 |
| 7. | Cavaliers | 43-36 | 8 |
| 8. | Hawks | 41-37 | 9.5 |
| 9. | Hornets** | 40-38 | 10.5 |
| 10. | Nets** | 40-38 | 10.5 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched NBA Play-In berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Knicks, Magic, Pacers, Pistons, Wizards
NBA standings 2022: Western Conference
(Current through April 3 games)
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Suns* | 62-16 | — |
| 2. | Grizzlies* | 55-23 | 7 |
| 3. | Warriors* | 50-29 | 12.5 |
| 4. | Mavericks* | 49-30 | 13.5 |
| 5. | Nuggets | 47-32 | 15.5 |
| 6. | Jazz | 46-32 | 16 |
| 7. | Timberwolves | 45-34 | 17.5 |
| 8. | Clippers** | 39-40 | 23.5 |
| 9. | Pelicans | 34-44 | 28 |
| 10. | Spurs | 33-45 | 29 |
| — | Lakers | 31-47 | 31 |
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched NBA Play-In berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Kings, Rockets, Thunder, Trail Blazers
NBA schedule: Full list of games for April 5
| Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| 76ers vs. Pacers | 7 p.m. | — |
| Cavaliers vs. Magic | 7 p.m. | — |
| Rockets vs. Nets | 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Hornets vs. Heat | 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Hawks vs. Raptors | 7:30 p.m. | — |
| Bucks vs. Bulls | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Wizards vs. Timberwolves | 8 p.m. | — |
| Trail Blazers vs. Thunder | 8 p.m. | — |
| Spurs vs. Nuggets | 9 p.m. | — |
| Grizzlies vs. Jazz | 9 p.m. | — |
| Pelicans vs. Kings | 10 p.m. | — |
| Lakers vs. Suns | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
