NBA final day of games: Standings, playoff scenarios, the games that matter

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Adam Silver couldn’t have written the script any better himself — with one day and one game per team left on the NBA schedule, 15 of the league’s 20 postseason spots remain undecided. Look at the options.

Here’s everything you need to know heading into the final day of the NBA season (where all 30 teams will play.

One note: Because of all the volatility and every team playing at the same time (either 1 or 3:30 p.m. Eastern), don’t expect teams try to manipulate a win or loss to get a matchup they want in the first round. For example, teams in 6-8 in the West may want to try and face Oklahoma City or Minnesota instead of Denver, but because any of those teams top can end up 1-3, it makes it very difficult to target a matchup.

Eastern Conference scenarios

• Boston is locked in as the No. 1 seed.

• The biggest game of the day, the one that will influence the most seedings, is Milwaukee at Orlando (and Giannis Antetokounmpo is still out for that game). If Milwaukee wins, they are the No. 2 seed. However, if they lose they most likely fall to the No. 4 seed (there is a chance they are third, but it would take the Cavaliers losing to the Hornets, or the Knicks losing to the Bulls, but of which are unlikely).

• Orlando, Indiana and Philadelphia are all tied at 46-35 for seeds 5-7 in the East, with the Heat lurking one game behind all of them.

• Orlando beating Milwaukee does not mean they automatically get to hold on to the No. 5 seed — they need one of the Pacers to lose to the Hawks, or the 76ers to lose to the Nets, or a string of losses by the Heat, Pacers and 76ers. However, as long as Orlando wins it cannot fall lower than six and will avoid the play-in.

• If Orlando loses, it could fall to seventh (if the Heat also lose) or eighth if the Heat, Magic, and 76ers all win.

• Current No. 7 seed Philadephia can jump out of the play-in with a win over Brooklyn, but they need help with either Orlando or Indiana losing as well. If all three of those teams win, Philly remains the No. 7 seed and has to face Miami in the play-in. There are a number of scenarios where a 76ers win also nets them the No. 6 seed….

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-final-day-games-standings-034259909.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-04-14 03:42:59

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