Keep track of the nightly movement in the NBA Play-in Race standings. The NBA Play-in race is heating up for the 2024 NBA Play-in. With so much movement in the NBA Play-in standings, we’ll showcase exactly what changed after each night of games.
Additionally, we’ll look at what the play-in bracket would look like if the season ended today.
We will keep you updated after the final game each night.
West team in NBA Play-In race
The 2024 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will include teams with the 7th through 10th-highest winning percentages in each conference and take place April 16–19.
The West NBA Play-in
Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers have experience and pedigree (two of the NBA’s official Top 75 players ever, LeBron James and Anthony Davis). Of the teams currently mired in Play-In territory, they have broken even against the conference’s top four seeds.
Golden State is 2-12 against the Denver Nuggets, the LA Clippers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Dallas Mavericks are 3-8 and the Phoenix Suns are 2-5 against that group.
The Lakers are 7-7 with, however, one big caveat: They are 0-3 against Denver this season, 0-8 counting the 2023 Western Conference Finals and the last 2022–23 regular-season clash. Somebody else will need to bump off the Nuggets for this scenario to happen.
NBA Play-In Sleeper
Sacramento Kings: To pull this off, a team must do three things. First, they must beat good teams. Of the four teams currently in the NBA Play-In (the Kings, Lakers, Warriors, and Mavs), Sacramento is the only one with a winning record against teams .500+ (20-17).
While it’s doubtful any NBA Play-In team will pull this off, the Kings have the best resume of the four.
NBA Play-In Lookout Teams
Miami Heat: Everything about a Miami Heat-like surprise team depends on one very big factor: Can such a team NBA Play-in, as it skips down a yellow-bricked road, avoid seeing the Denver Nuggets? Because that’s where any fantasy begins and ends.
None of the NBA Play-In candidates can match up with the defending champs. In the event the Nuggets are somehow upset early, then let’s nominate the Lakers as that surprise team.
New Orleans Pelicans: NBA Play-in
New Orleans Pelicans. If the Pelicans or Suns were to slip into the NBA Play-In group, it would be them. New Orleans has been the best team outside the top four, currently one of four teams that rank in the top 10 on both ends, so they get my vote.
Record vs. top four teams in the NBA Play-in West (teams 5–10)
Team |
W |
L |
PCT |
Sacramento | 8 | 5 | 0.615 |
L.A. Lakers | 7 | 7 | 0.500 |
New Orleans | 6 | 6 | 0.500 |
Phoenix | 2 | 5 | 0.286 |
Dallas | 3 | 8 | 0.273 |
Golden State | 2 | 12 | 0.143 |
Lakers In NBA Play-In Territory
Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers didn’t advance to the NBA Play-In Finals last season, but their postseason run after the NBA Play-In Tournament was certainly surprising. They aren’t as dangerous of a team this season.
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Jeff has played basketball since the ninth grade. He is a fan of the sport, specifically Michael Jordan! His experience is playing as a center, and he is happy to share his thoughts and takeaways about the NBA Play-in, soccer, and other sports.
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