With just over two weeks remaining in the regular season, the NBA playoff picture is beginning to take shape.
In the Western Conference, the postseason field is already set. The New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have all been eliminated, though positioning — particularly in the play-in tournament — remains unsettled.
The Eastern Conference remains a bit more fluid. The Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls are still mathematically alive for the play-in, but both would need a dramatic late-season comeback to work their way into contention.
Meanwhile, several of the league’s biggest stars continue building their cases for postseason awards. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the heavy favorite to repeat, with Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama also in the conversation.
Gilgeous-Alexander has strengthened his case with another dominant season, joining Dončić as the only players averaging more than 30 points per game while leading the league with 14.2 win shares and a +10.7 plus-minus.
Elsewhere, injuries and the 65-game rule have reshaped the awards race. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and 41-year-old LeBron James are both ineligible for postseason awards under the NBA’s 65-game requirement, while three-time MVP Nikola Jokić can miss just one more game before falling below the threshold.