The Celtics can either clinch the second, third or fourth seed on Sunday (above bracket reflects results after 3:30 ET Sunday games).
The final day of the 2021-22 NBA regular season features 15 games that will have a major impact on the NBA playoffs and Play-In Tournament. Follow along and see how the key storylines around the league are shaking out as the season comes to a close.
Latest playoff seeding possibilities
Eastern Conference
- Miami
- Milwaukee OR Boston
- Milwaukee OR Boston OR Philadelphia
- Boston OR Philadelphia
- Toronto
- Chicago
- Brooklyn
- Cleveland
- Atlanta
- Charlotte
Western Conference
- Phoenix
- Memphis
- Dallas OR Golden State
- Dallas OR Golden State
- Denver OR Utah
- Denver OR Utah
- Minnesota
- LA Clippers
- New Orleans
- San Antonio
Updates and scenarios from all 15 games
Boston Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies (LIVE, TNT)
- The Celtics can clinch the No. 2 seed if they win after the Bucks’ loss earlier on Sunday. Boston can also fall to the No. 4 seed if they lose and Philadelphia wins.
- Memphis has already clinched the No. 2 seed and will face either Minnesota or the LA Clippers in the first round.
Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers (LIVE, League Pass)
- The 76ers are guaranteed to have home court in the playoffs. The No. 4 seed is the most likely scenario, but if they win and the Celtics lose, the 76ers will take the No. 3 seed. Philadelphia will either play Toronto or Chicago in the first round.
- The Pistons have already been eliminated.
Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks (LIVE, League Pass)
- The Raptors have already clinched the No. 5 seed. They will face either the 76ers (likeliest scenario) or the Celtics in the first round.
- The Knicks have already been eliminated.
Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic (LIVE, League Pass)
- The Heat are locked into the No. 1 seed. Miami will face the second survivor of the Play-In Tournament (Nets, Cavaliers, Hawks or Hornets) in the first round.
- The Magic have already been eliminated.
The matchups are set.
Update for next week’s Meta Quest NBA Play-In Tournament schedule ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eWMV1ESPTf
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 10, 2022
Brooklyn Nets 134, Indiana Pacers 126
- The Nets survived a couple runs by the Pacers to win and clinch seventh place. They will host Cleveland in their first game of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will earn the seventh seed and play either Milwaukee or Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
- The Pacers have already been eliminated.
Cleveland Cavaliers 133, Milwaukee Bucks 115
- Milwaukee’s loss leaves the door open for Boston to snag the No. 2 seed with a win over Memphis, which would leave the Bucks at No. 3 and facing the Chicago Bulls in the first round.
- The Cavaliers’ victory kept them at eighth place. They will play at Brooklyn in their first game of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will be the seventh seed and play either Milwaukee or Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
Charlotte Hornets 124, Washington Wizards 108
- Charlotte did what it could by beating Houston, but the other Play-In teams’ victories kept the Hornets at 10th place. They will play at Atlanta in their first game in the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will play the loser of Cavaliers-Nets for the eighth and final playoff spot.
- The Wizards have already been eliminated.
Atlanta Hawks 130, Houston Rockets 114
- Atlanta’s victory helped ensure they will have ninth place and home-court advantage in a single-elimination Play-In game against the Charlotte Hornets. The winner will advance for a shot at the eighth seed, while the loser will miss the playoffs.
- The Rockets have already been eliminated.
Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8:30 ET, League Pass)
- The Bulls are already locked into the No. 6 seed and could face the Celtics, Bucks or 76ers in the first round since each of those teams could be the No. 3 seed.
- The Timberwolves will host the LA Clippers in a Play-In game on Tuesday. The winner of that game will clinch the No. 7 seed and advance to play the Grizzlies in the first round. The loser will host the winner of Spurs-Pelicans in the Play-In Tournament and battle for the No. 8 seed, with the winner of that game playing the Suns in the first round.
Full breakdown of Western Conference Playoffs seeding scenarios ⬇️https://t.co/TS4Oemmbsr pic.twitter.com/Tor7mOYbpJ
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 9, 2022
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- To climb to third, the Mavericks would need to win and the Warriors would need to lose. Otherwise, Dallas will end up the No. 4 seed. The Mavericks will either face the Jazz or Nuggets in the first round.
- San Antonio is locked into 10th place and will play at New Orleans in the first round of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will play the loser of Timberwolves-Clippers and battle for the No. 8 seed.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- Only one scenario exists that would see Denver clinch the No. 5 seed: a Nuggets win and Jazz loss. Any other combination will see Denver finish as the No. 6 seed with its opponent (Golden State or Dallas) still to be decided.
- The Lakers have already been eliminated.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Clippers (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- The Clippers are locked into eighth place and will visit the Timberwolves in the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will clinch the seventh seed and play the Grizzlies in the first round. The loser of Clippers-Timberwolves would play the winner of Spurs-Pelicans for the eighth seed, with the winner of that game playing the Suns in the first round.
- The Thunder have already been eliminated.
Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans (9:30 ET, TNT)
- The Warriors will clinch the No. 3 seed with a win or a Mavericks loss. If the Warriors lose and the Mavericks win, the Warriors will be the No. 4 seed. Golden State will face the Nuggets or Jazz in the first round.
- The Pelicans clinched ninth place in the Play-In Tournament and will host the Spurs on Tuesday.
Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- The Suns are locked into first place in the Western Conference and will play the second survivor of the Play-In Tournament (Timberwolves, Clippers, Pelicans or Spurs).
- The Kings have already been eliminated.
Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- The math is simple for Utah: Win to clinch the No. 5 seed. A loss and Nuggets victory, however, would drop the Jazz to the No. 6 seed. Utah will face either the Mavericks or Warriors in the first round.
- The Trail Blazers have already been eliminated.
2022-04-10 22:18:45