The 2018-19 NBA season will end tonight with the NBA Playoffs set to begin on April 13. Between now and the end of the regular season, teams are still jockeying for playoff positioning and seeding.
* * *
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCENARIOS
Brooklyn Nets
✔️ The Nets clinched the No. 6 seed after a win against the Heat.
Orlando Magic
✔️ The Magic clinched the No. 7 seed after a win AND a Nets win AND a Pistons win.
Detroit Pistons
✔️ The Pistons clinched a playoff spot after a win.
✔️ The Pistons clinched the No. 8 seed after a win AND a Nets win AND a Magic win.
Charlotte Hornets
❌ The Hornets did not clinch a playoff spot after a loss to Orlando. Charlotte couldn’t finish higher than No. 8.
* * *
East seeds after Wednesday night
Everything’s locked in the East. Here’s the breakdown:
1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Toronto Raptors
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Boston Celtics
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Orlando Magic
8. Detroit Pistons
* * *
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCENARIOS
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets clinch the No. 2 seed with a win.
The Nuggets clinch the No. 3 seed with a loss.
Relevant Games:
• Timberwolves vs. Nuggets (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass)
Houston Rockets
The Rockets clinch the No. 2 seed with a Nuggets loss.
The Rockets clinch the No. 3 seed with a Nuggets win AND a Blazers loss.
The Rockets clinch the No. 4 seed with a Nuggets win AND a Blazers win.
Relevant Games:
• Timberwolves vs. Nuggets (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass)
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers clinch the No. 3 seed with a win AND a Nuggets win.
The Blazers clinch the No. 4 seed with a loss.
Relevant Games:
• Kings vs. Blazers (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass)
• Timberwolves vs. Nuggets (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass)
Oklahoma City Thunder
✔️ The Thunder clinched the No. 6 seed with a win.
San Antonio Spurs
✔️ The Spurs clinched the No. 7 seed with a win AND a Thunder win.
LA Clippers
✔️ The Clippers were locked into the No. 8 seed with wins by the Spurs and Thunder.
* * *
West seeds after the early Wednesday games
All eight playoff spots are clinched in the West, but three seeds are still up for grabs. Here’s a look at the current breakdown:
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Denver Nuggets or Houston Rockets
3. Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets or Portland Trail Blazers
4. Portland Trail Blazers or Houston Rockets
5. Utah Jazz
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
7. San Antonio Spurs
8. LA Clippers
* * *