NBA Standings 2020: Mavericks, Grizzlies, Nets, Magic Eyeing Final Playoff Berths

Of the 22 NBA teams that will play eight more regular-season games in Orlando, Florida when basketball comes back, 12 have clinched playoff berths. That means 10 teams have a chance to win their way into the postseason, though four teams have a distinct edge over the rest of the field.

The Dallas Mavericks haven’t officially clinched a playoff spot, but they might as well have. As the No.7 seed in the West, Dallas has a seven-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks are virtually guaranteed to reach the postseason, no matter how they perform in Orlando.

Dallas is closer to the No.2 seed than the No.8 seed.

Memphis is 3.5 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings. They are very likely to, at the very least, earn a spot in a short play-in tournament.

If the Grizzlies have a better record than all three of those teams over the course of eight games, they will probably clinch the No.8 seed and head straight to the conference quarterfinals.

The San Antonio Spurs are four games behind Memphis and not much of a threat now that LaMarcus Aldridge has suffered a season-ending injury. The Phoenix Suns trail the Grizzlies by six games and went 8-15 before the season was suspended on March 11.

Over in the East, the No.7 seed Brooklyn Nets and No.8 Orlando Magic are both in command of their own playoff destiny. It’s impossible for either team to catch the Philadelphia 76ers, who are 8.5 games ahead of Brooklyn as the No.6 seed. It’s also unlikely that the Nets or Magic will be knocked out of the playoff picture.

The Washington Wizards are the only team in the East that has a chance to earn its way into the playoff picture. Washington is six games behind Brooklyn and 5.5 games behind Orlando. Bradley Beal has been terrific, but the Wizards haven’t shown at any point this season that they are to be taken seriously as a playoff contender.

Washington is 16 games under .500 with a 4-7 record in its last 11 games.

The NBA season is scheduled to restart on July 31.