Starting 5: Final day. 15 video games. 10 seeds to fill.

81 video games in.

10 postseason seeds nonetheless to be determined, together with the third seed out West and final assured Playoff spot within the East.

With all 30 groups in motion to shut up the common season, learn on for all of the stakes and eventualities of Sunday’s finale.

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5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

April 12, 2026

What’s At Stake: Sunday’s 15-game slate will determine the remaining half of the postseason bracket

Three Teams, One Seed: One remaining sport for the Raptors, Magic and Sixers to seize the final assured Playoff spot

East’s Ending: Hawks, Hornets and Heat can all shift seeds Sunday

Last Stand Out West: Lakers, Nuggets each have eyes on 3-seed on remaining day

Rest Of The West: eighth seed up for grabs between Blazers & Clippers, whereas Flagg finishes rookie marketing campaign

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

One remaining full slate…

All 30 groups are in motion on the season’s remaining day, that includes an ESPN doubleheader with the Magic visiting the Celtics (6 ET | Tap To Watch), adopted by the Spurs internet hosting the Nuggets (8:30 ET | Tap To Watch).

After immediately, the postseason begins with the SoFi Play-In Tournament, Tuesday, April 14 via Friday, April 17. The First Round of the NBA Playoffs begins Saturday, April 18.

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1. SUNDAY’S STAKES: 10 SEEDS STILL TO BE SOLIDIFIED TODAY

The remaining 15 video games of the common season will decide 10 of the 20 postseason seeds.

Half the sector’s seedings might change fingers on Sunday. Here’s a breakdown of every staff’s eventualities.

Eastern Conference:

• Locked-In Seeds: No. 1 Pistons, No. 2 Celtics, No. 3 Knicks, No. 4 Celtics
• No. 5 Hawks enter Sunday with an opportunity to complete both No. 5 or No. 6
• No. 6 Raptors enter Sunday with an opportunity to complete No. 5-8
• No. 7 Magic & No. 8 Sixers: Each enter Sunday with an opportunity to complete No. 6-8
• No. 9 Hornets & No. 10 Heat: Each enter Sunday with an opportunity to complete No. 9 or No. 10

Western Conference:

• Locked-In Seeds: No. 1 Thunder, No. 2 Spurs, No. 5 Rockets, No. 6 Wolves, No. 7 Suns, No. 10 Warriors
• No. 3 Nuggets & No. 4 Lakers: Each enter Sunday with an opportunity to complete No. 3 or No. 4
• No. 8 Blazers & No. 9 Clippers: Each enter Sunday with an opportunity to complete No. 8 or No. 9

Here’s a visible index of which groups can end at every seed:

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2. THREE-FOR-ONE: FINAL GAME DECIDES FATES OF RAPTORS, MAGIC & SIXERS

Three postseason groups.

One Playoff spot.

The most eventful seeding battle of this Playoff Picture goes down at 6 ET immediately, with the Raptors, Magic and Sixers all on-court. Here’s who has an edge:

Nets at No. 6 Raptors (League Pass): Toronto is the one staff on this state of affairs controlling its personal future, with the additional benefit of house court docket benefit.

• Win & In: Toronto’s best path to the Playoffs is easy, because the Raptors can clinch their first Playoff berth since 2021-22 by defeating the Nets
• Dinos’ All-Star Duo: Two-time All-Star forwards Brandon Ingram (21.4 ppg) and Scottie Barnes (7.4 rpg) – chosen as teammates for the primary time this 12 months – have supported Toronto’s two-way success this season (top-5 protection, 112.2)

No. 7 Magic at No. 2 Celtics (ESPN): A sixth straight win and a Raptors loss would assure the Magic’s third consecutive Playoff look.

But not like Toronto and Philly, Orlando has to do it on the highway, in an area they haven’t received in since 2022.

• Orlando’s Outlook: Paolo Banchero (22.2 ppg) and new addition Desmond Bane (20.2 ppg) have paced the offense, whereas Franz Wagner (ankle) is getting wholesome on the proper time, taking part in in 5 of six April video games

Standing in Orlando’s means is a Boston squad that’s taken two of three head-to-head matchups this season, all again in November.

Bucks at No. 8 Sixers (League Pass): Philly’s path to a Playoff seed is essentially the most uphill, needing a win and losses from each the Raptors and Magic Sunday. Working within the Sixers’ favor is their 3-0 report towards the Bucks this season.

• Max Scoring: Tyrese Maxey (28.4 ppg) has stored his title among the many league’s top-5 scorers for a majority of the season, whereas additionally getting it completed defensively (1.9 stl, T-Third)
• PG’s Return: Paul George has additionally been a vivid spot for Philly since coming back from suspension, averaging 22.1 ppg in 9 video games

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3. EAST’S ENDING: HAWKS, HORNETS & HEAT ALL IN FLUX SUNDAY

Here’s how the opposite six East postseason groups shut out the common season — all tipping at 6 ET on League Pass — with three nonetheless preventing to find out their seeds.

No. 5 Hawks at No. 10 Heat: Atlanta is locked into the Playoffs for the primary time in 4 years, however its seed and First Round opponent continues to be up within the air.

• Where To? A win would match the 5-seed Hawks up with the 4-seed Cavs once more, a staff they’ve seen twice within the remaining week of the season. A loss might ship them to New York because the 6-seed
• JJ & NAW: Atlanta’s 17-4 stretch run has been fueled by Jalen Johnson’s rise as a triple-double risk and Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s career-high 20.8 ppg (+11.4 ppg from final season)
• South Beach Switch? The Heat will face the Hornets within the East Play-In Tournament’s 9/10 sport, and nonetheless have an opportunity to host that showdown with a win and a Charlotte loss immediately

No. 9 Hornets at No. 3 Knicks: The Hornets can safe the 9-seed and internet hosting duties of their Play-In matchup with a win immediately at MSG.

• Buzzing Back: Charlotte has gone 32-16 since Jan. 1 after an 11-22 begin, incomes its first season over .500 since 2021-22. A win immediately would clinch the franchise’s greatest report (44-38) since 2015-16
• NY’s Moment: Led by Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns, Mike Brown’s clutch Knicks (fewest clutch losses within the East) are desperate to take their subsequent step to New York’s first Finals look since 1998-99

No. 1 Pistons at Pacers: East-leading Detroit wants yet another victory to safe its first 60-win season in 20 years.

• Resilience & Rise: Detroit has returned to full power with its engine, Cade Cunningham, again from a collapsed lung, and Jalen Duren capping his breakout All-Star season anchoring the NBA’s 2nd-best protection (108.8)

Wizards at No. 4 Cavaliers: Cleveland returns to the Playoffs with house court docket benefit for the fourth straight season.

• This time round, the Cavs lead with the dynamic duo of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Cleveland is tied for the league’s Fifth-best report (20-9) since Harden’s Feb. 7 arrival

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4. WEST’S LAST STAND: NUGGETS, LAKERS SETTLE 3-SEED ON FINAL DAY

No. 3 Nuggets at No. 2 Spurs (8:30 ET, ESPN): Denver will attempt to shut the common season with a twelfth straight win to clinch the 3-seed, towards a 2-seed Spurs staff its overwhelmed twice within the final month (2-1 total).

• Denver’s Duo: Nikola Jokić is fueling the longest win streak of his Nuggets profession, ending the season because the league-leader in rebounds (12.9) and assists (10.9)
• French Renaissance: Victor Wembanyama’s 2025-26 Spurs (62-19) are the primary staff to go from 60+ losses to 60+ wins in a two-year span

Jazz at No. 4 Lakers (8:30 ET, League Pass): To transfer from 4th to Third on the season’s remaining day, LeBron James and the Lakers will want a 3rd consecutive win and to get some assist in San Antonio.

• 41-year-old James is averaging 28.0 ppg, 7.7 rpb and 12.7 apg in his final 3 video games (2-1), the primary participant age 40 or older with such numbers over a three-game span
• Final Run’s Résumé: L.A.’s earned two straight W’s towards West Play-In groups within the Warriors and Suns to assert house court docket benefit, and goes for a season sweep of Utah immediately

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5. REST OF WEST: BLAZERS & CLIPS SORT OUT FINAL SPOT, FLAGG’S ROOKIE FINISH

The Blazers maintain the ultimate puzzle piece of the 2026 Playoff Picture.

Seven remaining West postseason groups end their common seasons on League Pass throughout tonight’s 8:30 ET wave of video games, with one seed left to type.

Kings at No. 8 Blazers: After defeating their direct competitors for the 8-seed Friday within the Clippers, the Blazers want yet another win to clinch it, internet hosting a Kings staff they’ve gone 3-0 towards.

No. 10 Warriors at No. 9 Clippers: Facing the Dubs squad who they at present line up with within the 9/10 Play-In sport, a Clips win and a Blazers loss would ship LA to Phoenix for the 7/8 Play-In.

• Klaw’s Mark: Kawhi Leonard can put the ultimate touches on a profession 12 months (27.9 ppg), because the Clippers look to finish the most important single-season turnaround in NBA historical past (6-21 to 42-40)

No. 7 Suns at No. 1 Thunder: The high staff within the West for the third straight 12 months, OKC seeks its second consecutive 65+ win season.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (out immediately) has secured his fourth straight season of 30+ ppg on 50 FG% or higher, the primary such streak since Michael Jordan, whereas Chet Holmgren anchored the league’s high protection (106.1) for the second consecutive season
• Destination, Desert: The Suns await an opponent for the 7/8 Play-In sport they’ll host, with Devin Booker netting 30+ factors in 5 of his final six video games

Grizzlies at No. 5 Rockets: Kevin Durant and Houston have received eight of their final 10 video games to lock up Fifth within the West, with Amen Thompson coming off a career-high 41-point outing.

Pelicans at No. 6 Wolves: Houston’s two losses within the final 10 video games have each come by the hands of the 6-seed Wolves, led by career-best numbers from Anthony Edwards (28.8 ppg), whereas additionally showcasing their depth throughout Ant’s latest knee harm.

Bulls at Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (1,463 pts, 462 reb, 315 ast, 83 stl) places the ending touches on a historic rookie season, internet hosting the Bulls whereas trying to be a part of Michael Jordan as the one rookies since 1973-74 to steer their groups in whole factors, rebounds, assists and steals.