NBA playoff scenarios, regular season finale – NBA

Sunday’s 15-game slate to close out the regular season will determine 10 of the 20 postseason seeds.
Brian Martin

Entering Sunday’s 15-game slate to close out the regular season, only half of the postseason seeds have been locked in place. That means there are 10 seeds that could change hands on Sunday. Here’s a breakdown of each team’s seeding scenarios.
EASTERN CONFERENCE 
The top four teams are locked into their seeds entering the regular-season finale.
The remaining teams in the East have not been locked into a seed. Here is where each can finish, and how they can get there.

Atlanta (46-35): The Hawks enter Sunday’s game at Miami (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 5 and can finish either No. 5 or No. 6.
A Hawks win on Sunday locks up No. 5 regardless of other outcomes. They can still get No. 5 with a loss as long as Orlando wins or Toronto loses. The Hawks would fall to No. 6 with a loss coupled with an Orlando loss and Toronto win. 
Toronto (45-36): The Raptors enter Sunday’s game vs. Brooklyn (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 6 and can finish No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8. 
A Raptors win on Sunday locks up a top six seed. However, with a loss they can finish No. 6 (with losses by Atlanta and Orlando), No. 7 (with wins by either Orlando or Philadelphia) or No. 8 (with wins by both Orlando and Philadelphia).
Orlando (45-36): The Magic enter Sunday’s game at Boston (6 ET, ESPN) at No. 7 and can finish No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8.
A Magic win on Sunday guarantees at least a No. 7 finish. A Magic win coupled with a Raptors loss would vault Orlando to No. 6. A Magic loss coupled with a Sixers win would drop Orlando to No. 8.
Philadelphia (44-37): The 76ers enter Sunday’s game vs. Milwaukee (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 8 and can finish No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8.
A Sixers win on Sunday gives them a chance at a No. 6 finish, while a loss guarantees a No. 8 finish. A Sixers win would lift them to No. 6 if both the Raptors and Magic lose, and it would lift them to No. 7 if either the Raptors or Magic lose.
Charlotte (43-38): The Hornets enter Sunday’s game at New York (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 9, and they can finish No. 9 or No. 10.
The Hornets are locked into the 9 vs. 10 Play-In game with Miami. Sunday will determine which team has home-court in that single-elimination game. A Hornets win or a Heat loss locks Charlotte into No. 9, while a Hornets loss coupled with a Heat win would drop Charlotte to No. 10.
Miami (42-39): The Heat enter Sunday’s game vs. Atlanta (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 10. But Miami can finish No. 9 or No. 10.
A Heat win coupled with a Hornets loss is the only way for Miami to leap to No. 9 and host the 9 vs. 10 Play-In game as the Heat look to earn a fourth consecutive playoff berth through the Play-In Tournament.
WESTERN CONFERENCE 
The following teams are locked into their seeds entering Sunday.
That leaves four teams looking to improve their standing on Sunday, including a key distinction between the top half and bottom half of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.

Denver (53-28): The Nuggets enter Sunday’s game at San Antonio (8:30 ET, ESPN) at No. 3 and can finish No. 3 or No. 4.
A Nuggets win clinches the No. 3 seed, while a loss coupled with a Lakers win would drop the Nuggets to No. 4 via tiebreaker.
Los Angeles (52-29): The Lakers enter Sunday’s game vs. Utah (8:30 ET, League Pass) at No. 4 and can finish No. 3 or No. 4.
A Lakers win coupled with a Nuggets loss earns the Lakers the No. 3 via tiebreaker. A Lakers loss locks them into No. 4.
Portland (41-40): The Blazers enter Sunday’s game vs. Sacramento (8:30 ET, League Pass) at No. 8 and can finish No. 8 or No. 9.
A Blazers win clinches the No. 8 seed, while a loss coupled with a Clippers win would drop the Blazers to No. 9.
LA (41-40): The Clippers enter Sunday’s game vs. Golden State (8:30 ET, League Pass) at No. 9 and can finish No. 8 or No. 9.
Since Portland owns the tiebreaker, the only way for the Clippers to reach No. 8 is with a win and a Blazers loss. A Clippers loss locks them into No. 9.
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