Wizards playoff picture: Where Wiz stand in tight East race originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The race to the 2021 NBA playoffs has hit the home stretch -- and it's still as tight as ever.
Only 2.5 games separate the No. 4 and No. 8 seeds in the Eastern Conference with about a month until the postseason, which begins May 18 with the Play-In Tournament followed by the first round on May 22.
We've got the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.
The Washington Wizards (24-33) sit in the 11th spot in the East, behind the Chicago Bulls, competing for the final spot in the play-in tournament with just 15 games remaining in their season. After going 7-1 in their last eight games, the Wizards will look to continue their winning ways against red-hot Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night.
So, where do things currently stand for Scott Brooks' club, and what may lie ahead? Here's what you need to know about the Wizards' push for the playoffs.
What is the format for the 2021 NBA Playoffs?
This year's playoffs feature a new wrinkle: the NBA Play-In Tournament. Here's how it works: The No. 7 through No. 10 seeds in the Western Conference and Eastern Conference, respectively, qualify for the Play-In Tournament.
The tournament begins May 18 and consists of two rounds for each conference with the following format:
Round 1
No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed (winner earns No. 7 seed; loser to Round 2)
No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed (winner to Round 2; loser eliminated)
Round 2
Loser of 7-8 vs. Winner of 9-10 (winner earns No. 8 seed; loser eliminated)
Once the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds are decided for each conference, the first round will begin May 22 with the traditional format: seven-game series featuring the 1-8, 2-7, 3-6 and 4-5 matchups.
Where are the Wizards in the Eastern Conference standings?
The Wizards currently are in the No. 11 spot in the East, behind the Bulls at No. 10. Washington and Chicago have the same record, but Chicago owns the tiebreaker after winning the season series 2-1. The Wizards are two games behind the Indiana Pacers for the No. 9 spot, while the Toronto Raptors sit just a half-game back.
| Team | GB From No. 1 |
| 7. Miami Heat | 8.5 |
| 8. Charlotte Hornets | 11 |
| 9. Indiana Pacers | 13 |
| 10. Chicago Bulls | 15 |
| 11. Washington Wizards | 15 |
| 12. Toronto Raptors | 15.5 |
Who would the Wizards play in the Play-In Tournament?
If the season ended Wednesday, the Wizards would just miss out on participating in the Play-In Tournament, while the Bulls advance to face the Pacers in the 9-10 matchup.
Here are the East play-in matchups if the season ended today:
| Away | Home |
| No. 10 Chicago Bulls | No. 9 Indiana Pacers |
| No. 8 Charlotte Hornets | No. 7 Miami Heat |
What is the Wizards' remaining schedule?
The Wizards have 15 regular-season games left, and their last eight games are all against Eastern Conference opponents, giving them a great opportunity to catch up in the playoff race.
Here are Washington's next five games:
| Wednesday, April 21 | vs. Warriors |
| Friday, April 23 | at Thunder |
| Sunday, April 25 | vs. Cavs |
| Monday, April 26 | vs. Spurs |
| Wednesday, April 28 | vs. Lakers |
What are the Wizards' playoff odds?
The Wizards currently have +50000 odds to win the 2021 NBA championship -- odds provided by our partner, PointsBet Sportsbook.
Those odds are tied with the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers for last in the NBA.
We'll update this article as the postseason nears, so stay tuned for the latest on the Wizards' playoff chances.
