2024 NBA playoff picture: Everything at stake on Sunday with crucial seeding, Play-In positioning on the line

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After an exciting six months, the 2023-24 NBA regular season will come to an end on Sunday with a action-packed slate that features all 30 teams. All 15 games will take place in two windows, one at 1 p.m. ET and the other at 3:30 p.m. ET. The first will feature seven all-Eastern Conference matchups, while the second will have seven all-Western Conference showdowns and a meeting between the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs. 

Heading into Sunday, there are a few things we know:

Everything else is still up for grabs. Ahead of Sunday, here’s a look at everything that’s still at stake:

Three teams battling for the No. 1 seed out West

The Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets have been scrapping over the top spot in the West for months, and there is nothing to separate them heading into the final day of the season. They are all 56-25, which makes this the first time in NBA history that three teams have the identical records after 81 games and all have a chance to earn the No. 1 seed. 

Here’s a look at the games for each team:

The Thunder currently hold the upper hand, as there are four scenarios in which they get the No. 1 seed, compared to three scenarios where it goes to the Timberwolves and just one where the Nuggets finish on top. Here’s a chart from the league that lays out all the potential outcomes. 

How the West can be won
NBA

Pelicans vs. Suns for the final automatic playoff spot

Slightly lower down the table, there is another big race going on between the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns for the No. 6 seed, which is the final automatic playoff spot. 

The Pelicans have a one-game lead and control their destiny. If they can beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, they’ll earn the sixth seed and record their first 50-win season since 2008. Even if they lose, they could still finish sixth if the Suns also lose to the Timberwolves. The only way for the Suns to jump into…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2024-nba-playoff-picture-everything-at-stake-on-sunday-with-crucial-seeding-play-in-positioning-on-the-line/

Author : Jack Maloney

Publish date : 2024-04-14 14:21:18

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