NBA Eastern Conference standings, explained: Updated scenarios for Raptors, 76ers and more

NBA Eastern Conference standings, explained: Updated scenarios for Raptors, 76ers and more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The biggest storyline entering the final day of the NBA regular season might rest in the East, where the playoff and Play-In seeds below the top four remain a jumbled mess with only game to play.

The top four seeds in the East are already set. The Pistons own the No. 1 seed, followed by the Celtics at No. 2, Knicks at No. 3 and Cavaliers at No. 4. None know who they will be playing in the first round of the playoffs.

The Pistons and Celtics will have to wait for the Play-In Tournament to determine their opponents, but the Knicks and Cavaliers will learn theirs on Sunday, with New York facing the No. 6 seed and Cleveland facing the No. 5 seed.

Here's a look at the Eastern Conference standings and scenarios in the NBA.

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NBA Eastern Conference playoff standings

Standings through April 11.

*clinched NBA Playoff berth

**clinched Play-In Tournament berth

Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Bucks, Bulls, Nets, Pacers, Wizards

The Hawks enter Sunday in possession of the No. 5 seed, followed closely by the Raptors and Magic. The Hawks are guaranteed a top-six seed and a playoff spot, but the Raptors, Magic and 76ers are all competing for the remaining spot, with the chance for Toronto and Orlando to potentially even pass Atlanta in the standings.

The Hornets and Heat, meanwhile, are locked into the 9 vs. 10 matchup in the Play-In Tournament, with seeding still up for grabs.

Here's a look at the NBA's two-team tiebreaking procedure:

1. Winning percentage head-to-head
2. If one team is leading its division and the other team isn't, the division leader gets the edge.
3. If teams are in same division: Winning percentage in division
4. Winning percentage in conference
5. Winning percentage against playoff-eligible teams in conference
6. Winning percentage against playoff-eligible teams in opposing conference
7. Point differential

With that in mind, here is a look at the three-team tiebreaking procedure:

1. If one team is leading its division and other teams aren't, the division leader gets the edge
2. Winning percentage against teams in tiebreaker only
3. If tied teams are in same division: Winning percentage in division
4. Winning percentage in conference
5. Winning percentage against playoff-eligible teams in conference
6. Point differential

Here's a complete breakdown of the playoff scenarios in the East on the final day of the regular season.

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Eastern Conference playoff scenarios, explained

To clinch playoff spot

The Hawks have already clinched a playoff berth, leaving one spot up for grabs above the Play-In seeds.

The Raptors can clinch a playoff berth with a win OR losses by both the Magic and 76ers.

The Magic can clinch a playoff berth with a win AND a Raptors loss.

The 76ers can only clinch a playoff berth with AND losses by both the Raptors and Magic.

Because the Raptors are facing the Nets, there is a strong likelihood of Toronto locking up the final playoff spot. Here's a look at how the Raptors can land the No. 5 seed in the East.

Seeding

The Raptors can be the No. 5 seed with a win, Hawks loss and Magic loss. If the Raptors win and Hawks win, or Raptors win and Hawks lose but Magic win, Toronto will be the No. 6 seed while Atlanta would be the No. 5 seed. A Raptors loss plus wins by the Magic and 76ers would drop Toronto all the way to No. 8, while a Raptors loss and win by either the Magic or 76ers would drop Toronto to No. 7.

For the Hawks, it's simpler: a win, Raptors loss or Magic win keeps them in the No. 5 seed. Atlanta can only drop to No. 6 with a loss, a Raptors win and a Magic loss.

The Magic and 76ers are part of more complicated scenarios. Orlando would slip to No. 8 with a loss and a 76ers win, and the Magic can only finish as high as No. 7 if they lose. If they win, they can't be any lower than No. 7 but can slide up to No. 6 and into a guaranteed playoff spot with a Raptors loss.

For the 76ers, the No. 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot is only possible if they win and both the Magic and Raptors lose. A loss guarantees Philadelphia the No. 8 seed, while a win could leave the 76ers in either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed depending on a number of other results.

The Heat and Hornets will face each other in the Play-In Tournament, but home-court advantage will be determined on Sunday. Charlotte will host with a win or a Miami loss, while the Heat can only host with a win AND a Hornets loss.

Here's a complete look at every scenario for Sunday:

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