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NBA Playoff Seeding to Be Decided on Final Day of Regular Season

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NBA Regular Season Finale: 15 Games to Decide Playoff Seeding

The final day of the NBA regular season will determine the seeding for ten playoff and play-in tournament positions across both conferences. The outcomes of Sunday's 15 games will finalize the postseason bracket, with multiple teams' fates dependent on specific win-loss combinations involving other games.

Eastern Conference Seeding

Four teams have secured their playoff positions:

  • No. 1: Detroit Pistons (59-22)
  • No. 2: Boston Celtics (55-26)
  • No. 3: New York Knicks (53-28)
  • No. 4: Cleveland Cavaliers (51-30)

The seeding for the remaining Eastern Conference playoff and play-in teams is as follows:

Atlanta Hawks (46-35)

  • Possible Finishes: No. 5 or No. 6.
  • No. 5 Scenario: A win against Miami; or a loss combined with either an Orlando win or a Toronto loss.
  • No. 6 Scenario: A loss combined with an Orlando loss and a Toronto win.

Toronto Raptors (45-36)

  • Possible Finishes: No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, or No. 8.
  • No. 5 Scenario: A win against Brooklyn combined with losses by Atlanta and Orlando.
  • No. 6 Scenario: A loss combined with losses by Orlando and Philadelphia.
  • No. 7 Scenario: A loss combined with a win by either Orlando or Philadelphia, but not both.
  • No. 8 Scenario: A loss combined with wins by both Orlando and Philadelphia.

Orlando Magic (45-36)

  • Possible Finishes: No. 6, No. 7, or No. 8.
  • No. 6 Scenario: A win against Boston combined with a Toronto loss.
  • No. 7 Scenario: A win combined with a Toronto win; or a loss combined with a Philadelphia loss.
  • No. 8 Scenario: A loss combined with a Philadelphia win.

Philadelphia 76ers (44-37)

  • Possible Finishes: No. 6, No. 7, or No. 8.
  • No. 6 Scenario: A win against Milwaukee combined with losses by both Toronto and Orlando.
  • No. 7 Scenario: A win combined with a loss by either Toronto or Orlando, but not both.
  • No. 8 Scenario: A loss; or a win combined with wins by both Toronto and Orlando.

Charlotte Hornets (43-38) and Miami Heat (42-39)

Both teams are locked into the No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in tournament game.

  • No. 9 Seed: Charlotte secures it with a win against New York or a Miami loss. Miami can only secure it with a win against Atlanta combined with a Charlotte loss.
  • No. 10 Seed: The team that does not meet the criteria for the No. 9 seed.

Western Conference Seeding

Six teams have secured their playoff positions:

  • No. 1: Oklahoma City Thunder (64-17)
  • No. 2: San Antonio Spurs (62-19)
  • No. 5: Houston Rockets (51-30)
  • No. 6: Minnesota Timberwolves (48-33)
  • No. 7: Phoenix Suns (44-37)
  • No. 10: Golden State Warriors (37-44)

The seeding for the remaining Western Conference playoff and play-in teams is as follows:

Denver Nuggets (53-28)

  • Possible Finishes: No. 3 or No. 4.
  • No. 3 Scenario: A win against San Antonio; or a loss combined with a Los Angeles Lakers loss.
  • No. 4 Scenario: A loss combined with a Lakers win.

Los Angeles Lakers (52-29)

  • Possible Finishes: No. 3 or No. 4.
  • No. 3 Scenario: A win against Utah combined with a Denver loss.
  • No. 4 Scenario: A loss; or a win combined with a Denver win.

Portland Trail Blazers (41-40)

  • Possible Finishes: No. 8 or No. 9.
  • No. 8 Scenario: A win against Sacramento; or a loss combined with an LA Clippers loss.
  • No. 9 Scenario: A loss combined with a Clippers win.

LA Clippers (41-40)

  • Possible Finishes: No. 8 or No. 9.
  • No. 8 Scenario: A win against Golden State combined with a Portland loss.
  • No. 9 Scenario: A loss; or a win combined with a Portland win.