Adam Silver couldn't have written the script any better himself — the NBA schedule has one game left per day for each team, and 15 of the league's 20 postseason spots are undecided. It's still there. Look at the options.
Here's everything you need to know heading into the final day of the NBA season, when all 30 teams will compete.
One caveat: Because it's highly volatile and teams play at the same time (either at 1:00 PM or 3:30 PM ET), teams can try to manipulate wins and losses to get the matchup they want in the first round. please do not. For example, a team that is 6-8 in the West might want to play Oklahoma City or Minnesota instead of Denver, but one of the top teams could end up finishing 1-3. Aiming for a match will be extremely difficult.
eastern conference scenario
• Boston is locked in as the No. 1 seed.
• The biggest game of the day, and the one with the most seeding implications, is Milwaukee vs. Orlando (Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn't played in that game yet). If Milwaukee wins, it will become the No. 2 seed. However, if they lose, they will likely drop to the 4th seed (3rd seed is also a possibility, but that would require either the Cavaliers losing to the Hornets or the Knicks losing to the Bulls, which is unlikely). .
• Orlando, Indiana and Philadelphia are all tied at 46-35 against seeds 5-7 in the East, leaving the Heat one game behind all of those teams.
Just because Orlando beats Milwaukee doesn't mean it automatically retains the No. 5 seed. Either the Pacers have to lose to the Hawks, the 76ers have to lose to the Nets, or they have to lose back-to-back games to the Heat. Pacers and 76ers. However, if Orlando wins, they will not fall below 6th place and the play-in will be avoided.
• If Orlando loses, they could fall to No. 7 (if the Heat also lose), and if the Heat, Magic and 76ers all win, they could drop to No. 8.
• Philadephia, currently the No. 7 seed, can jump out of the play-in with a win against Brooklyn, but will also need help if either Orlando or Indiana lose. If all three teams win, Philadelphia will remain the No. 7 seed and have to face Miami in the play-ins. There are many scenarios where the 76ers could win and also earn the No. 6 seed. However, if the 76ers lose to Brooklyn, they will not be able to move up in the standings, and if the Heat and Magic both win, they will fall to the 8th seed and enter the first play-in game.
• Miami could move all the way from No. 8 to No. 5, but a lot has to break in its path. Not only do they have to beat Toronto, they also have to lose to Orlando, Indiana, and Philadelphia. The Heat must win for a chance to move up to 6th place (loss to Magic and Pacers or Sixers) or 7th place (loss to Magic or 76ers). If Miami loses on Sunday, they will remain in eighth place.
• Chicago is No. 9 and Atlanta is No. 10.
Western Conference Scenario
• The top three scenarios for Thunder, Nuggets, and Timberwolves were very complex we have split it into its own story. A quick explanation of the top three: If they all win, Oklahoma City will be in first place, Minnesota will be in second place, and Denver will be in third place. If either the Thunder or Timberwolves lose, Denver could move up in the standings, but they would both have to lose to reach first place. Minnesota can take first place if either the Thunder or Nuggets win and one loses (OKC has a three-way tiebreaker, but Minnesota is ahead of Oklahoma City in a head-to-head matchup).
• The No. 4 Clippers host the No. 5 Mavericks in the best first-round series in either conference.
• The big game this afternoon is Lakers vs. Pelicans. The match will affect the standings in several ways.
• If the Pelicans win, they will be the No. 6 seed. If the Suns lose and beat the Timberwolves (who have a chance to play), Phoenix would move up to sixth place and New Orleans would fall into the play-in at seventh place.
• If the Lakers beat the Pelicans, they will remain the No. 8 seed. This is a huge deal because he would only need to win one out of two play-in games to advance to the playoffs. However, things get complicated when the Lakers lose. If the Lakers lose and either the Warriors or Kings win, the Lakers will move to No. 9, but if Los Angeles loses and both Sacramento and Golden State win, the Lakers will fall to No. 1. Ten.
• The Kings can move up to No. 8 if they beat the Trail Blazers and the Lakers lose to the Pelicans. If the Lakers win and the Warriors lose, the Kings will be in 9th place (assuming they win).
• To move up to No. 8, the Warriors need a win against the Jazz, and if they lose, a win against the Kings and Lakers. Golden State could move into ninth place if they win and the Lakers or Kings lose. If the Warriors lose, they could be in 10th place, and if they win, they could be in 10th place, but the Lakers and Kings also both won.
