NBA Playoff Race Update: The Detroit Pistons Are on Life Support

Eastern Conference - Dead or Dying

(9) Detroit Pistons (35-40, 0.4%)
(10) Charlotte Hornets (34-42, 0.0%)
(11) New York Knicks (27-49, eliminated)
(12) Brooklyn Nets (24-51, eliminated)
(13) Chicago Bulls (24-51, eliminated)
(14) Orlando Magic (22-52, eliminated)
(15) Atlanta Hawks (21-54, eliminated)

The playoff race in the Eastern Conference continues to be a snoozefest. The Pistons and Hornets are still mathematically in the hunt, but they'll almost certainly be eliminated in the next couple days.

Detroit holds the tiebreaker over the eighth-place Milwaukee Bucks (a better divisional win-loss percentage, since they split the season series), but they're still five games back with only seven to play.

Charlotte is on even thinner ice, as they'll officially be eliminated from playoff contention as of their next loss or Milwaukee's next win.