Brace yourselves, basketball fans. The 2021 NBA playoffs are almost here.

There is an added level of intrigue this year with the league implementing a new version of the play-in tournament, which was first seen inside the Florida “bubble” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the traditional eight-team fields in each conference, a total of 20 teams will participate in the postseason.

MORE: Latest standings | Daily NBA schedule

With multiple contenders battling for playoff positioning, the final stretch of the regular season should provide plenty of entertainment. 

Here’s a snapshot of the current NBA playoff picture, including the full standings for each conference.

NBA standings 2021: Eastern Conference

*clinched playoff berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Cavaliers, Magic, Pistons

NBA standings 2021: Western Conference

*clinched playoff berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Rockets, Thunder, Timberwolves

How does the NBA play-in tournament work?

• The play-in tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2020-21 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots, and teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the play-in tournament.
• The No. 7 team will face the No. 8 team, and the winner will earn the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
• The No. 9 team will face the No. 10 team, and the winner will advance to play against the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.
• The loser from the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game and the winner from the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs, and the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.

NBA playoff picture: Seeding breakdowns

(Remaining strength of schedule via Tankathon and playoff probability via FiveThirtyEight)

Eastern Conference

1. 76ers

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .406

Playoff probability: In

2. Nets

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .410

Playoff probability: In

3. Bucks

Remaining games: 5

Remaining strength of schedule: .444

Playoff probability: In

4. Knicks

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .509

Playoff probability: 99 percent

5. Hawks

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .371

Playoff probability: 99 percent

6. Heat

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .533

Playoff probability: 98 percent

7. Celtics

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .430

Playoff probability: 95 percent

8. Hornets

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .585

Playoff probability: 50 percent

9. Wizards

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .471

Playoff probability: 35 percent

10. Pacers

Remaining games: 5

Remaining strength of schedule: .519

Playoff probability: 21 percent

Western Conference

1. Jazz

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .458

Playoff probability: In

2. Suns

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .511

Playoff probability: In

3. Clippers

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .355

Playoff probability: In

4. Nuggets

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .414

Playoff probability: In

5. Mavericks

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .417

Playoff probability: 99 percent

6. Trail Blazers

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .581

Playoff probability: 98 percent

7. Lakers

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .428

Playoff probability: 96 percent

8. Warriors

Remaining games: 4

Remaining strength of schedule: .601

Playoff probability: 60 percent

9. Grizzlies

Remaining games: 5

Remaining strength of schedule: .488

Playoff probability: 36 percent

10. Spurs

Remaining games: 5

Remaining strength of schedule: .652

Playoff probability: 8 percent