NBA bubble watch: which teams will seal a playoff spot?

T his year, the NBA play-in tournament has done its job and kept so many teams at least mathematically alive that we thought that you may need a quick guide to determine which teams are still in the mix – and what they’re in the mix for.

Clinched: The Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have clinched guaranteed playoff spots. The Toronto Raptors have guaranteed themselves an appearance in the play-in tournament.

Already eliminated: Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons.

The Nets made the boldest move of the season, even if it was one they felt they had to make. Realizing that the Kyrie Irving-Kevin Durant marriage was never going to work, they sent Irving to the Dallas Mavericks and Durant to the Phoenix Suns. Not that the Nets have been tanking. Winners of their last three games, they’re up two games on the Miami Heat for the sixth seed with four to go. Plus, they will have the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week on their side in Mikal Bridges, so you could say that he’s hot.

Record: 43-35

Last 10 games: 4-6

Prediction: The Nets secure the sixth seed in the East, avoiding the play-in tournament.

The NBA standings are weird. The ninth-seeded Toronto Raptors, who currently sit at .500, have secured a spot in the play-in tournament. The Heat have a 41-37 record and yet have not clinched anything, which is partly their own fault because they lost three straight games before righting the ship with a victory over the freefalling Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Their remaining schedule includes games against the Pistons and Wizards, so it’s hard to imagine them not securing at least a play-in spot.

Record: 41-37

Last 10 games: