Phoenix Suns in battle for Western Conference postseason #Phoenix #Suns #battle #Western #Conference #postseason #englishheadline

The NBA regular season is starting to wind down, but the race for the playoffs and postseason seeding is beginning to heat up.

Which teams will make the NBA playoffs, which begin with the first round on April 15?

How will the seeding play out?

What’s the deal with the play-in tournament that runs from April 11-14?

Take a look at the NBA playoff picture and standings for each conference heading into Tuesday’s games, including the tight battle in the Western Conference, where just five and a half games separate the fourth place Phoenix Suns and the 12th place Utah Jazz.

Western Conference standings:

• 1. Nuggets (51-24)

• 2. Grizzlies (47-27) 3.5 games back

• 3. Kings (45-30) 6 games back

• 4. Suns (40-35) 11 games back

• 5. Clippers (40-36) 11.5 games back

• 6. Warriors (39-37) 12.5 games back

• 7. Timberwolves (39-37) 12.5 games back

• 8. Pelicans (38-37) 13 games back

• 9. Lakers (37-38) 14 games back

• 10. Thunder (37-38) 14 games back

• 11. Mavericks (37-39) 14.5 games back

• 12. Jazz (35-40) 16 games back

• 13. Trail Blazers (32-43) 19 games back

• 14. Spurs (19-56) 32 games back

• 15. Rockets (18-58) 33.5 games back

Western Conference playoff picture (if postseason began today):

• 1. Denver Nuggets vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in

• 2. Memphis Grizzlies vs Winner of No. 7 seed play-in

• 3. Sacramento Kings vs. 6. Golden State Warriors

• 4. Phoenix Suns vs. 5. LA Clippers

Western Conference Play-In Tournament:

Winner of game advances as the No. 7 seed in Western Conference playoffs, while the loser plays the winner of Lakers vs. Thunder game for the No. 8 seed.

Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Timberwolves vs. Pelicans game for the No. 8 seed in Western Conference playoffs, while the loser is eliminated.

More: What LeBron James’ return means for the Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason chances

Eastern Conference standings:

• 1. Bucks (54-21)

• 2. Celtics (52-23) 2 games back

• 3. 76ers (49-26) 5 games back

• 4. Cavaliers (48-28) 6.5 games back

• 5. Knicks (43-33) 11.5 games back

• 6. Nets (40-35) 14 games back

• 7. Heat (40-35) 14 games back

• 8. Hawks (37-38) 17 games back

• 9. Raptors (37-38) 17 games back

• 10. Bulls (36-39) 18 games back

• 11. Pacers (33-43) 21.5 games back

• 12. Wizards (33-42) 20.5 games back

• 13. Magic (32-43) 22 games back

• 14. Hornets (25-51) 29.5 games back

• 15. Pistons (16-59) 38 games back

Story continues

Eastern Conference playoff picture (if postseason began today):

• 1. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Winner of No. 8 seed play-in

• 2. Boston Celtics vs. Winner of No. 7 seed play-in

• 3. Philadelphia 76ers vs. 6. Brooklyn Nets

• 4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. New York Knicks

Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament:

Winner of game  advances as the No. 7 seed in Eastern Conference playoffs, while the loser plays the winner of Raptors vs. Bulls game for the No. 8 seed.

Winner advances to an elimination game vs. the loser of Heat vs. Hawks game for the No. 8 seed in Eastern Conference playoffs, while the loser is eliminated.

Tuesday’s NBA game schedule

• Celtics at Wizards, 4 p.m., MST

• Cavaliers at Hawks, 4:30 p.m., MST

• Heat at Raptors, 4:30 p.m., MST

• Magic at Grizzlies, 5 p.m., MST

• Hornets at Thunder, 5 p.m., MST

• Pelicans at Warriors, 7 p.m., MST

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NBA playoff picture, standings, postseason matchups, seeds for 2023