(6) Brooklyn Nets (36-33, 95.4%)
(7) Detroit Pistons (34-32, 94.2%)
(8) Miami Heat (31-35, 41.1%)
(9) Orlando Magic (31-37, 38.0%)
(10) Charlotte Hornets (30-37, 25.4%)
(11) Washington Wizards (28-39, 6.0%)

The Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons are both on the verge of joining our "sure things" tier with playoff probability odds north of 94%, according to our algorithm.

In the meantime, the most interesting postseason race in the Eastern Conference has become the battle for eighth place. The Miami Heat (41.1%) currently occupy that spot, but both the 9th-place Orlando Magic (38.0%) and 10th-place Charlotte Hornets (25.4%) are only a game and a half back from catching them.

The Washington Wizards remain a relative long shot at 3.5 games back, but we still give them a puncher's chance (6.0%) of pulling it off.