NBA Standings Update: Wizards back in sixth place, but they could get back to fifth soon

After winning two in a row last weekend, the Wizards (35-32) had a #SoWizards game against the Kings to fall back to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, half a game behind the Brooklyn Nets.

Let's look at the "not so negative" part about being "half a game behind the Nets." First, the Wizards do have a tiebreaker against the Nets this season, and both teams are three games above .500 right now. However, that is also a moot point if the Wizards don't win more games than the Nets, which is what really hurt about Tuesday's collapse.

Also Tuesday, the Toronto Raptors, the third place team in the Eastern Conference lost to the Atlanta Hawks, 118-113 in overtime, which now only puts them half a game ahead of the fourth-place Chicago Bulls. For team perspectives on that game, you can read the recaps from SB Nation Toronto Raptors blog Raptors HQ by clicking here, and from SB Nation Atlanta Hawks blog Peachtree Hoops by clicking here.

Here are the standings for the top 10 teams in the Eastern Conference as of today:

1. Indiana Pacers (50-17)
2. Miami Heat (46-19), (3 GB of Indiana)
3. Toronto Raptors (37-29) (9.5 GB of Miami)
4. Chicago Bulls (37-30) (0.5 GB of Toronto) (Wizards own tiebreaker)
5. Brooklyn Nets (34-31) (2 GB of Chicago) (Wizards own tiebreaker)
6. Washington Wizards (35-32) (0.5 GB of Brooklyn; 2.5 GB Chicago)
7. Charlotte Bobcats (33-35) (2.5 GB of Washington)
8. Atlanta Hawks (31-35) (3.5 GB of Washington)
9. New York Knicks (27-40) (4.5 GB of Atlanta)
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (26-42) (6 GB of Atlanta)

Though the Wizards won't be playing Wednesday, there will still be a lot of important games among other Eastern Conference teams. Most notably, the Nets and Bobcats square off at Barclays Center at 7:30 p.m. Given how close the Wizards are to the fifth seed, it is better to see the Bobcats win, which will put the Wizards back into fifth place.

In addition, the third seed is up for grabs tonight as both the Raptors and Bulls will be playing. First, the Bulls will play the Philadelphia 76ers on the road at 7 p.m.. Then, Toronto will play the New Orleans Pelicans on the road at 8 p.m. If the Raptors win, they will still be the third seed in the East. If they lose, they will probably be fourth because of the team the Bulls are playing tonight.