The final day of the NBA’s regular season is upon us on Sunday.
Not a single first-round playoff series is set entering the day’s action. In the Eastern Conference, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons could face anyone from the Toronto Raptors to the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets or Miami Heat.
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Out West, most everything is settled, except for two key outcomes: The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers are vying for the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds, while the Portland Trail Blazers and LA Clippers are jockeying for the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds.
You get the point. There is a lot left to be decided, and that’s what we’re here for, to sort it all out, providing you with everything you need to know about the postseason.
Jump to: Eastern Conference • Western Conference
CURRENT PLAY-IN BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
(9) LA Clippers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
CURRENT PLAYOFF BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) play-in winner
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
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Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) play-In winner
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) play-In winner
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
EASTERN CONFERENCE RACE
The Pistons, Celtics, Knicks and Cavaliers have secured the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 seeds, respectively. Who each will face in the first round of the playoffs is still up for grabs.
The Hawks have captured one of the two remaining guaranteed playoff seeds in the East. They will finish either fifth or sixth. The conference’s final guaranteed playoff seed will go to the Raptors, Magic or Sixers; only Toronto can finish as high as fifth.
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Whichever two teams fail to qualify for the last guaranteed playoff spot will face each other in the 7-8 play-in tournament game. The Hornets and Heat will play in the 9-10 game, though which team will host that outing is still left to be determined.
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
Record: 59-22 | Net rating: 8.2 (3rd)
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Clinched No. 1 seed and Central Division title
What’s at stake: Will face No. 8 seed (Raptors, Magic, 76ers, Hornets, Heat) after play-in tournament.
Record: 55-26 | Net rating: 8.1 (4th)
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Clinched No. 2 seed and Atlantic Division title
What’s at stake: Will face No. 7 seed (Raptors, Magic, 76ers) after play-in tournament.
Record: 53-28 | Net rating: 6.5 (5th)
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What’s at stake: Will face No. 6 seed (Hawks, Raptors, Magic or 76ers).
Record: 51-30 | Net rating: 4.4 (9th)
What’s at stake: Will face No. 5 seed (Hawks or Raptors).
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 46-35 | Net rating: 2.3 (12th)
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Clinched playoff berth; clinches No. 5 seed with win over Heat or loss by Raptors to Nets
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Holds tiebreaker over Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreaker to Raptors
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Magic number for No. 5 seed: 1
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 6 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed.
Battling for guaranteed playoff spot
Record: 45-36 | Net rating: 2.7 (11th)
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Clinches No. 5 seed with win over Nets and loss by Hawks to Heat
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Clinches guaranteed playoff spot with a win or losses by Magic and 76ers
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Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hawks and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with 76ers
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Magic number for No. 6 seed: 1
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Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 45-36 | Net rating: 0.0 (17th)
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Clinches No. 6 seed with win over Celtics and Raptors loss to Nets; clinches at least No. 7 seed with win over Celtics or 76ers loss to Bucks
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Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Hawks, Raptors and 76ers
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Magic number for No. 7 seed: 1
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Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 44-37 | Net rating: -0.5 (19th)
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Clinches No. 6 seed with win over Bucks and Raptors and Magic losses; clinches No. 7 seed with win over Bucks and either Raptors or Magic loss
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Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Raptors, Hornets and Magic
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Magic number for No. 7 seed: Does not control own destiny
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Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Play-in bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 43-38 | Net rating: 5.1 (7th)
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Locked into play-in tournament; clinches No. 9 seed with win over Knicks or Heat loss to Hawks
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Loses head-to-head tiebreaker to 76ers and Heat
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: 1
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Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 9 seed and home-court advantage in the 9-10 game.
Record: 42-39 | Net rating: 1.6 (13th)
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Locked into play-in tournament; clinches No. 9 seed with win over Hawks and Hornets loss to Knicks
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Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hornets
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Magic number for No. 9 seed: Does not control own destiny
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Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 9 seed and home-court advantage in the 9-10 game.
Sunday’s games of consequence
WESTERN CONFERENCE RACE
The Thunder and Spurs have captured the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively.
The Rockets and Wolves are also respectively locked into the Nos. 5 and 6 seeds.
The Nuggets and Lakers will decide the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds on Sunday. Should Denver beat San Antonio or L.A. lose to Utah, the Nuggets will be the No. 3 seed. However, if the Lakers win and the Nuggets lose, L.A. will take over the No. 3 seed.
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The Suns, Blazers, Clippers and Warriors will form the West’s play-in tournament field. In what order remains to be seen. The Suns and Warriors are locked into the Nos. 7 and 10 seeds, respectively. Should Portland beat Sacramento or LA lose to Golden State, the Blazers will be the No. 8 seed. On the other hand, if the Clippers win and the Blazers lose, LA will earn the No. 8 seed and two shots at a playoff bid.
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
Record: 64-17 | Net rating: 11.6 (1st)
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Clinched No. 1 overall seed, Northwest Division title and home-court advantage throughout playoffs
What’s at stake: Will face No. 8 seed (Suns, Clippers, Trail Blazers or Warriors) after play-in tournament.
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Record: 62-19 | Net rating: 8.6 (2nd)
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Clinched No. 2 seed and Southwest Division title
What’s at stake: Will face No. 7 seed (Suns, Clippers or Trail Blazers) after play-in tournament.
Record: 51-30 | Net rating: 5.0 (7th)
What’s at stake: Will face No. 4 seed (Nuggets or Lakers) in the first round.
Record: 48-33 | Net rating: 3.1 (10th)
What’s at stake: Will face No. 3 seed (Nuggets or Lakers) in first round.
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 53-28 | Net rating: 5.1 (6th)
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Clinched playoff berth; clinches No. 3 seed with win over Spurs or Lakers loss to Jazz
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Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Lakers
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Magic number for No. 3 seed: 1
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and first-round matchup against the Timberwolves.
Record: 52-29 | Net rating: 0.9 (16th)
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Clinched playoff berth and Pacific Division title; clinches No. 3 seed with win over Jazz and Nuggets loss to Spurs
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Holds tiebreakers over Nuggets and Rockets
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Magic number for No. 3 seed: Does not control own destiny
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Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and first-round matchup against the Timberwolves.
Play-in bound, seeding locked
Record: 44-37 | Net rating: 1.3 (14th)
What’s at stake: Will face No. 8 seed (Clippers or Blazers) in first game of play-in tournament at 10 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 14.
Record: 37-44 | Net rating: -0.4 (19th)
What’s at stake: Will face No. 9 seed (Clippers or Blazers) in second game of play-in tournament at 10 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 15.
Play-in bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 41-40 | Net rating: -0.5 (20th)
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Clinches No. 8 seed with win over Kings or Clippers loss to Warriors
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Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Clippers
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Magic number for No. 8 seed: 1
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Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.
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Record: 41-40 | Net rating: 1.1 (15th)
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Clinches No. 8 seed with win over Warriors and Trail Blazers loss to Kings
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Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Trail Blazers
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Magic number for No. 8 seed: Does not control own destiny
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Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed
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Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.