NBA Tiebreakers Explained
When two or more NBA teams finish with the same record, the league works through a fixed list of tiebreakers and stops at the first one that separates them.
Head-to-head comes first, and a division title counts only as a tiebreaker, not as a guaranteed seed.
This page explains every step in plain English, shows which 2026-27 races are currently tied and how they would be broken today, and lets you compare any two teams.
Current Ties in the 2026-27 Standings
Teams in the same conference with identical records, and the step that separates them right now. Playoff seeding uses these exact comparisons.
Atlanta HawksSoutheast · Eastern Conference No. 7
Charlotte HornetsSoutheast · Eastern Conference No. 8
| Step | Hawks | Hornets |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-head | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Division winner | no | no |
| Division record | 2-1 | 2-2 |
| Conference record | 3-1 | 3-4 |
| Record vs conference playoff-eligible teams | 3-0 | 1-4 |
| Net points (all games) | +6 | -57 |
The Atlanta Hawks rank ahead on head-to-head.
New York KnicksAtlantic · Eastern Conference No. 10
Indiana PacersCentral · Eastern Conference No. 11
Miami HeatSoutheast · Eastern Conference No. 12
With three teams tied, the combined head-to-head record among them comes first. Taking the order as it stands today, the Knicks are ahead of the Pacers on conference record and the Pacers sit ahead of the Heat in the seeding order.
Milwaukee BucksCentral · Eastern Conference No. 13
Chicago BullsCentral · Eastern Conference No. 14
| Step | Bucks | Bulls |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-head | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| Division winner | no | no |
| Division record | 1-2 | 1-0 |
| Conference record | 1-4 | 1-5 |
| Record vs conference playoff-eligible teams | 0-3 | 0-5 |
| Net points (all games) | -79 | -95 |
The Chicago Bulls rank ahead on head-to-head.
San Antonio SpursSouthwest · Western Conference No. 4
Los Angeles LakersPacific · Western Conference No. 5
Dallas MavericksSouthwest · Western Conference No. 6
Oklahoma City ThunderNorthwest · Western Conference No. 7
With four teams tied, the combined head-to-head record among them comes first. Taking the order as it stands today, the Spurs sit ahead of the Lakers in the seeding order, the Lakers are ahead of the Mavericks on division winner and the Mavericks are ahead of the Thunder on head-to-head.
Tiebreaker Checker
Pick any two NBA teams. The checker walks the official order using this season's results and stops at the first step that separates them.
The Official Tiebreaker Order
Two teams tied on record for any seed.
- 1
Head-to-head
Record in games between the tied teams. Each pair meets three or four times a season, so this settles most ties.
Example Celtics 50-32, Knicks 50-32. Celtics won the series 3-1: Celtics rank higher.
- 2
Division winner
If exactly one of the tied teams won its division, it ranks higher. This is the only place a division title matters in NBA seeding.
- 3
Division record
Only for teams in the same division: record in the 16 games against division rivals.
- 4
Conference record
Record in the 52 games against conference opponents.
- 5
Record vs conference playoff-eligible teams
Record against the teams in your own conference that finish in the top ten, including the play-in.
- 6
Record vs other-conference playoff-eligible teams
The same test against the top ten of the other conference.
- 7
Net points
Points scored minus points allowed across the season.
Three or more teams tied on record. Once one team is separated, the remaining teams restart from the two-team list.
- 1
Combined head-to-head
The combined record in all games among the tied teams replaces the two-team head-to-head. Steps 2 to 7 are then the same as the two-team list (division winner if exactly one, division record if all in one division, conference record, record v conference top ten, record v other-conference top ten, net points).
Example Example: three teams at 48-34. Team A went 5-3 against the other two, B 4-4, C 3-5: A takes the top spot, then B and C restart from the two-team list.
Division Record, Conference Record and Net Points
After head-to-head, these are the steps that decide most NBA ties. Division and conference records are built from every game played so far. Tap a heading to sort.
| # | Team | Record | Div | Conf | Net pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Memphis GrizzliesMEMWestern Conference |
6-0 | 0-0 | 6-0 | +91 |
| 2 |  Houston RocketsHOUWestern Conference |
6-1 | 2-1 | 3-1 | +87 |
| 3 |  Philadelphia 76ersPHIEastern Conference |
6-1 | 2-0 | 6-1 | +27 |
| 4 |  Detroit PistonsDETEastern Conference |
5-1 | 0-0 | 5-1 | +48 |
| 5 |  Portland Trail BlazersPORWestern Conference |
4-1 | 1-0 | 4-1 | +57 |
| 6 |  Boston CelticsBOSEastern Conference |
4-1 | 2-0 | 4-1 | +46 |
| 7 | San Antonio SpursSASWestern Conference |
4-2 | 1-1 | 4-2 | +43 |
| 8 | Los Angeles LakersLALWestern Conference |
4-2 | 3-1 | 4-2 | +31 |
| 9 |  Cleveland CavaliersCLEEastern Conference |
4-2 | 1-0 | 3-2 | +30 |
| 10 | Dallas MavericksDALWestern Conference |
4-2 | 1-2 | 2-2 | +15 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City ThunderOKCWestern Conference |
4-2 | 1-0 | 4-2 | -3 |
| 12 |  Toronto RaptorsTOREastern Conference |
3-2 | 0-0 | 3-1 | +53 |
| 13 |  Denver NuggetsDENWestern Conference |
3-2 | 0-1 | 3-2 | -6 |
| 14 |  Minnesota TimberwolvesMINWestern Conference |
4-3 | 0-0 | 1-2 | +79 |
| 15 |  Golden State WarriorsGSWWestern Conference |
3-3 | 1-2 | 3-3 | +8 |
| 16 |  Washington WizardsWASEastern Conference |
3-3 | 1-1 | 3-3 | +5 |
| 17 | Atlanta HawksATLEastern Conference |
3-4 | 2-1 | 3-1 | +6 |
| 18 | Charlotte HornetsCHAEastern Conference |
3-4 | 2-2 | 3-4 | -57 |
| 19 |  Orlando MagicORLEastern Conference |
2-3 | 0-1 | 2-2 | -43 |
| 20 |  New Orleans PelicansNOPWestern Conference |
2-4 | 0-0 | 1-3 | +11 |
| 21 | New York KnicksNYKEastern Conference |
2-4 | 0-3 | 2-4 | -4 |
| 22 | Indiana PacersINDEastern Conference |
2-4 | 0-1 | 1-3 | -19 |
| 23 | Miami HeatMIAEastern Conference |
2-4 | 1-1 | 2-2 | -19 |
| 24 |  Phoenix SunsPHXWestern Conference |
1-3 | 1-0 | 1-3 | -50 |
| 25 |  Los Angeles ClippersLACWestern Conference |
1-4 | 1-2 | 1-4 | -32 |
| 26 |  Utah JazzUTAWestern Conference |
1-5 | 0-1 | 1-5 | -61 |
| 27 | Milwaukee BucksMILEastern Conference |
1-5 | 1-2 | 1-4 | -79 |
| 28 | Chicago BullsCHIEastern Conference |
1-5 | 1-0 | 1-5 | -95 |
| 29 |  Brooklyn NetsBKNEastern Conference |
0-5 | 0-1 | 0-5 | -55 |
| 30 |  Sacramento KingsSACWestern Conference |
0-6 | 0-1 | 0-6 | -114 |
Div = record against the four division rivals. Conf = record against the other 14 conference teams. Net pts = points scored minus points allowed, the final NBA tiebreaker.
Why the Tiebreakers Matter
Seeds 1-6 go straight to the playoffs; seeds 7-10 must survive the play-in. One tiebreaker can be the difference between a week of rest and two elimination games.
The higher seed hosts games 1, 2, 5 and 7. Finishing 4th instead of 5th is worth a home game seven.
Conference rivals meet three or four times, so the season series usually settles it before any other step.
Since 2016 a division winner gets no automatic top-four seed; it ranks ahead only when tied with a non-winner.
Glossary
Head-to-head
The record in games between the tied teams only. With three or more teams it is the combined record in all games among them.
Division winner
A division title is not a top-four seed, but a division winner ranks ahead of a non-winner it is tied with.
Division record
Record against the four teams in the same division. Applies only when the tied teams share a division.
Conference record
Record against the 14 other teams in the same conference (Eastern or Western).
Record vs playoff teams
Record against teams that finish in the top six of the conference, then against playoff teams in the other conference.
Net points
Points scored minus points allowed in all games. The last resort in the NBA order.
Play-in
Seeds 7 to 10 in each conference play a short tournament for the final two playoff spots.
Clinched
Mathematically certain of the outcome no matter what happens in the remaining games.
Eliminated
Mathematically unable to reach the playoffs even by winning every remaining game.
Games back (GB)
How many games a team trails the leader. A half game means the teams have played a different number of games.
🏆 NBA playoff picture → 📊 NBA standings →
Tiebreaker FAQ
What is the first NBA tiebreaker?
Head-to-head record between the tied teams. With three or more teams it is the combined record among all of them.
Does winning the division help in a tie?
Yes, it is the second step: if exactly one of the tied teams won its division, it ranks higher.
What is the play-in tournament?
Seeds 7-10 in each conference play for the last two playoff spots: 7 v 8 for the No. 7 seed, 9 v 10 with the loser eliminated, then the loser of 7 v 8 against the winner of 9 v 10 for the No. 8 seed.
How many games are in an NBA season?
82 per team, 41 at home and 41 away, from October to April.
Can NBA games end in a tie?
No. Overtime periods of five minutes continue until there is a winner.
Are these standings shown with tiebreakers applied?
Our tables apply head-to-head, division and conference records and net points. The checker on this page walks the official order for any two teams.
Updated · last result change Oct 31