With 81 games completed for each NBA team, the final day of regular season action, Sunday, remains crucial with much still at stake.
Even after 1,215 games, several playoff and lottery positions are still undecided as all 30 teams play their 82nd and final game.
For some teams, the offseason begins, and they await the NBA draft lottery on May 12. Others are starting a potential two-month playoff journey aiming for the Larry O`Brien Trophy.
Here’s a breakdown of what`s at stake as the regular season concludes, starting with the competitive Western Conference:
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Teams with Confirmed Positions:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder secured the top seed in the conference and the entire NBA, guaranteeing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. A win on Sunday in New Orleans would mark them as the seventh team in NBA history to achieve at least 68 wins in a season.
2. Houston Rockets
The Rockets have long held the second seed, concluding an impressive season by securing home-court advantage for the first two playoff rounds. Houston`s performance will influence the final standings, particularly below them.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
After Friday`s victory over Houston, the Lakers are locked into the third seed. Like the Thunder and Rockets, they await the resolution of the lower West bracket.
Remaining Western Conference Decisions:
Essentially, everything else is still to be decided!
4. Denver Nuggets
Denver controls its own fate. If they defeat the Rockets, who are locked in at No. 2, they will secure home-court advantage in the first round after a tumultuous week.
5. LA Clippers
The Clippers are in a similar position, having won in Sacramento on Friday, placing them on the verge of a playoff spot. However, they face a tougher challenge against the Warriors in San Francisco.
A win combined with a Denver loss would elevate the Clippers to fourth. A win and a Denver win would set up a first-round matchup against the Nuggets. A loss could push them into the play-in tournament.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves could have been in contention for home-court advantage if they hadn`t lost a 24-point lead to the Bucks earlier in the week. A win against the Utah Jazz would guarantee them a top-six spot in the West. They could even reach the fourth seed if both Denver and the Clippers lose on Sunday, thanks to season sweeps over both teams.
The late games will determine the West play-in tournament participants.
7. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors regret a recent loss after Harrison Barnes’ game-winning shot against his former team. Despite this, after defeating Portland on Friday, Golden State needs a win on Sunday to ensure a top-six spot.
If both the Warriors and Timberwolves win, the Timberwolves will be fifth, the Warriors sixth, and the Clippers seventh, based on head-to-head records.
Golden State is guaranteed at least seventh place and will host the first play-in game due to a head-to-head tiebreaker over Memphis.
8. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies missed an opportunity to complicate the standings further by losing to the Nuggets on Friday. This loss means they need external factors to move from the eighth spot, even though they host Dallas.
Memphis is confirmed for the play-in but can move to seventh if Minnesota loses to the Jazz. They will either play in Golden State or host Minnesota, as the Timberwolves would be eighth in a potential three-way tie.
9. Sacramento Kings, 10. Dallas Mavericks
The final two West postseason spots are relatively straightforward.
The Kings and Mavericks are tied entering Sunday after the Kings lost to the Clippers and the Mavericks beat the Raptors on Friday.
Sacramento controls its destiny. Having swept the Mavericks this season, a win against Phoenix or a Dallas loss secures a home game for the 9-10 play-in match.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
Confirmed Eastern Conference Standings:
All 10 Eastern Conference postseason spots are locked in following Friday`s results:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Boston Celtics
3. New York Knicks
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Detroit Pistons
7. Orlando Magic
8. Atlanta Hawks
9. Chicago Bulls
10. Miami Heat
NBA Draft Lottery Standings
1/2. Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards
After both the Jazz and Wizards lost on Friday, they are tied for the worst league record at 17-64. If they remain tied after Sunday’s games—Utah at Minnesota, Washington at Miami—a coin flip will decide draft order if neither team moves in the lottery. Top three lottery teams have equal odds.
3. Charlotte Hornets
4. New Orleans Pelicans
5. Philadelphia 76ers
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Toronto Raptors
8. San Antonio Spurs
Positions for teams behind the Jazz and Wizards are set. Philadelphia secured the fifth spot despite Friday`s loss to Atlanta, ensuring they keep their top-six protected first-round pick unless multiple teams below them jump in the lottery. If their pick falls to No. 7 or lower, it goes to Oklahoma City as part of a past trade.
9/10. Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns
On the season`s final day, the Blazers face the Lakers (locked at No. 3), and the Suns play the Kings (fighting for playoff position). If both lose, a coin flip determines draft pick order if neither moves up in the lottery, with pingpong ball odds evenly split.
Phoenix`s pick is controlled by Houston, acquired from Brooklyn, who regained control of their 2025 and 2026 picks last offseason. Houston could get a better pick than Brooklyn this year with lottery luck.
11. Miami Heat
The Heat are in a unique spot: their 10th seed is fixed, giving them incentive to lose to Washington to secure the 11th lottery spot. Washington also benefits from draft positioning.
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Atlanta Hawks
14. Dallas Mavericks
15. Sacramento Kings
The Kings owe their pick to the Hawks if it`s outside the top 12. If the Kings beat the Suns and secure ninth play-in spot, Hawks and Mavericks losses mean Sacramento`s pick is no higher than 13th if they don`t advance from play-in.
A Kings loss could let them keep their pick—outright if Atlanta or Dallas wins, or by coin flip if they lose. A four-way tie is possible if Bulls win and Hawks, Mavericks, and Kings all lose, giving Sacramento up to three coin flip chances to keep their pick.
16. Orlando Magic
