Understanding NBA Standings: Win %, Games Behind & Tiebreakers

1. Calculating Winning Percentage (PCT)

Winning percentage determines official conference rankings. Formula:

PCT = Wins / (Wins + Losses)

A team with a 50-32 record has a winning percentage of 50 / 82 = .610.

2. Games Behind (GB) Formula

Games Behind measures how many games a trailing team is behind the leader:

GB = [(Leader Wins - Team Wins) + (Team Losses - Leader Losses)] / 2

3. Official Tiebreaker Rules

When two teams finish with identical records, tiebreakers are applied in order:

1. Head-to-head record between the tied teams
2. Division winner status
3. Higher winning percentage within division (if tied in same division)
4. Higher winning percentage in conference games
5. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference