With each NBA team having completed 81 games, Sunday marks the final day of regular-season action, and there`s still much at stake.
After 1,215 games, playoff and lottery positions remain undecided as all 30 teams play their 82nd and final game.
For some, the offseason begins, with anticipation for the NBA draft lottery on May 12. Others are gearing up for a potential two-month playoff journey aiming for the Larry O`Brien Trophy.
Here’s a breakdown of what`s on the line as the regular season concludes, starting with the competitive Western Conference:
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Teams with Secured Positions:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have secured the top seed in the West and the entire NBA, guaranteeing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. A win on Sunday against New Orleans would make them the seventh team in NBA history to achieve at least 68 wins in a season.
2. Houston Rockets
The Rockets are locked into the second seed, capping off a surprisingly successful season with home-court advantage for the first two playoff rounds. Houston will significantly influence the final standings.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
Following Friday`s victory over Houston, the Lakers are confirmed as the third seed, awaiting the final outcomes to determine their playoff bracket.
Remaining Western Conference Decisions:
Essentially, everything else is still to be decided!
4. Denver Nuggets
Denver controls their fate. A win against the Rockets, who are locked in at No. 2, would secure home-court advantage in the first round after a turbulent week for the franchise.
5. LA Clippers
The Clippers are in a similar position, having won in Sacramento on Friday, placing them on the verge of a playoff spot. However, they face a tougher challenge against the Warriors in San Francisco.
A win plus a Denver loss would elevate the Clippers to fourth. A win and a Denver win means they likely face the Nuggets in the first round. A loss could push them into the play-in tournament.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves could have been vying for home-court advantage if not for a significant collapse against the Bucks earlier in the week. Beating the Utah Jazz will guarantee them a top-six spot in the West. Due to season sweeps over both the Nuggets and Clippers, they could reach the fourth seed if both lose on Sunday.
The late games will determine the play-in tournament participants.
7. Golden State Warriors
Like the Timberwolves, the Warriors regret a recent loss where Harrison Barnes hit a game-winner against his former team. Despite this, after defeating Portland on Friday, Golden State needs a win on Sunday to secure a top-six spot in the West.
If both the Warriors and Wolves win, the standings would be Timberwolves fifth, Warriors sixth, and Clippers seventh, based on head-to-head records.
Golden State is guaranteed at least the seventh seed and will host the first play-in game due to a head-to-head tiebreaker over Memphis.
8. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies missed an opportunity to complicate the standings by losing to the Nuggets on Friday. This loss means they need help to move from the eighth spot, even with a home game against Dallas.
Memphis is confirmed for the play-in but can ascend to seventh if Minnesota loses to Utah. Memphis will either play at Golden State or host Minnesota, as the Wolves would drop to eighth in a potential three-way tie.
9. Sacramento Kings, 10. Dallas Mavericks
The equation for the final two play-in spots is relatively straightforward.
The Kings and Mavericks are tied entering Sunday after a Kings loss to the Clippers and a Mavericks win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
The Kings control their destiny. Having swept the Mavericks in the regular season, Sacramento needs to defeat Phoenix or have Dallas lose to secure a home game for the 9-10 play-in matchup.
Eastern Conference Final Standings
Positions Are Locked:
Remarkably, Friday`s results finalized all 10 Eastern Conference postseason spots:
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Boston Celtics
- New York Knicks
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Detroit Pistons
- Orlando Magic
- Atlanta Hawks
- Chicago Bulls
- Miami Heat
NBA Draft Lottery Standings
Top Lottery Positions:
1/2. Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards
Following Friday losses, the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards are tied for the worst league record at 17-64. If they remain tied after Sunday`s games—Utah at Minnesota, Washington at Miami—a coin flip will decide draft order if neither team moves up in the lottery. Top three lottery teams have equal odds.
3. Charlotte Hornets
4. New Orleans Pelicans
5. Philadelphia 76ers
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Toronto Raptors
8. San Antonio Spurs
The next six teams` lottery positions are set. Philadelphia notably secured the fifth spot despite a Friday loss to Atlanta, protecting their top-six protected first-round pick unless multiple teams below them jump in the lottery. If their pick falls to No. 7 or lower, it goes to Oklahoma City from a prior trade.
9/10. Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns
On the final day, the Blazers face the locked-in No. 3 seed Lakers, and the Suns play the Kings who are fighting for play-in seeding. If both lose, a coin flip determines draft order, but lottery odds remain equal.
However, Phoenix`s pick is controlled by Houston, acquired from Brooklyn. Houston could potentially draft higher than Brooklyn this year with lottery luck.
11. Miami Heat
The Heat are in a unique position, with no incentive to improve their 10th seed playoff spot, potentially favoring a loss to Washington to stay 11th in the lottery. Washington also aims to solidify their draft position.
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Atlanta Hawks
14. Dallas Mavericks
15. Sacramento Kings
The Kings` pick goes to Atlanta if outside the top 12. If the Kings win against the Suns and secure ninth in the play-in, Hawks and Mavericks losses would mean Sacramento picks no higher than 13th if they don`t advance from the play-in.
A Kings loss could keep their pick—outright if Atlanta or Dallas wins, or via coin flip if they also lose. A four-way tie with Bulls, Hawks, and Mavericks losing is possible, giving Sacramento up to three coin flip chances to keep their pick.
16. Orlando Magic
