Regular Season Finale Sets the Stage

The NBA regular season wrapped up this past Sunday, with all 30 franchises hitting the hardwood to determine the final postseason positioning. The outcomes of these final games were pivotal in shaping the road to the championship.

In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors secured the No. 5 seed by defeating the Nets. This victory guaranteed them a spot in the playoffs, while the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic were pushed into the play-in tournament.

Out West, the Denver Nuggets claimed the No. 3 seed after overcoming the Spurs. Consequently, the Los Angeles Lakers locked in the No. 4 seed, setting the stage for an intense first-round series against the Houston Rockets.


Play-In Tournament Schedule

The quest for the final postseason seeds begins with the play-in tournament. All matchups will be broadcast on Prime:

  • Tuesday, April 14:
    • Eastern Conference: (10) Heat at (9) Hornets, 7:30 p.m.
    • Western Conference: (8) Trail Blazers at (7) Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 15:
    • Eastern Conference: (8) Magic at (7) 76ers, 7:30 p.m.
    • Western Conference: (10) Golden State Warriors at (9) Clippers, 10 p.m.

Opening Weekend: NBA Playoffs Game 1

The intensity ramps up on Saturday, April 18, with the start of the first round:

  • 1:00 p.m. ET: (5) Raptors at (4) Cavaliers
  • 3:30 p.m. ET: (6) Timberwolves at (3) Nuggets
  • 6:00 p.m. ET: (6) Hawks at (3) Knicks
  • 8:30 p.m. ET: (5) Rockets at (4) Lakers

Action continues Sunday, April 19, featuring the top seeds hosting the survivors of the play-in tournament across various networks including ABC and NBC.


Playoff Bracket Outlook

With the dust settled, the conference brackets are as follows:

Eastern Conference

  • (1) Detroit Pistons vs. Play-in winner
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. Play-in winner
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) [TBD]
  • (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors

Western Conference

  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Play-in winner
  • (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. Play-in winner
  • (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) [TBD]
  • (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets