2022 Playoff Bracket Updates: Latest scenarios on final day of season

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The Celtics can either clinch the second, third or fourth seed on Sunday.

The final day of the 2021-22 NBA regular season features 15 games that will have a major impact on the NBA playoffs and Play-In Tournament. Follow along and see how the key storylines around the league are shaking out as the season comes to a close.

Latest playoff seeding possibilities

Eastern Conference

  1. Miami
  2. Milwaukee OR Boston
  3. Milwaukee OR Boston OR Philadelphia
  4. Boston OR Philadelphia
  5. Toronto
  6. Chicago

    PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

  7. Brooklyn
  8. Cleveland
  9. Atlanta
  10. Charlotte

Western Conference

  1. Phoenix
  2. Memphis
  3. Dallas OR Golden State
  4. Dallas OR Golden State
  5. Denver OR Utah
  6. Denver OR Utah

    PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

  7. Minnesota
  8. LA Clippers
  9. New Orleans
  10. San Antonio

Updates and scenarios from all 15 games

Brooklyn Nets 134, Indiana Pacers 126

  • The Nets survived a couple runs by the Pacers to win and clinch seventh place. They will host Cleveland in their first game of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will earn the seventh seed and play either Milwaukee or Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
  • The Pacers have already been eliminated.

Cleveland Cavaliers 133, Milwaukee Bucks 115

  • Milwaukee’s loss leaves the door open for Boston to snag the No. 2 seed with a win over Memphis, which would leave the Bucks at No. 3 and facing the Chicago Bulls in the first round.
  • The Cavaliers’ victory kept them at eighth place. They will play at Brooklyn in their first game of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will be the seventh seed and play either Milwaukee or Boston in the first round of the playoffs.

Charlotte Hornets 124, Washington Wizards 108

  • Charlotte did what it could by beating Houston, but the other Play-In teams’ victories kept the Hornets at 10th place. They will play at Atlanta in their first game in the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will play the loser of Cavaliers-Nets for the eighth and final playoff spot.
  • The Wizards have already been eliminated.

Atlanta Hawks 130, Houston Rockets 114

  • Atlanta’s victory helped ensure they will have ninth place and home-court advantage in a single-elimination Play-In game against the Charlotte Hornets. The winner will advance for a shot at the eighth seed, while the loser will miss the playoffs.
  • The Rockets have already been eliminated.

Boston Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies (7 ET, TNT)

  • The Celtics can clinch the No. 2 seed if they win after the Bucks’ loss earlier on Sunday. Boston can also fall to the No. 4 seed if they lose and Philadelphia wins.
  • Memphis has already clinched the No. 2 seed and will face either Minnesota or the LA Clippers in the first round.

Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks (7 ET, League Pass)

  • The Raptors have already clinched the No. 5 seed. They will face either the 76ers (likeliest scenario) or the Celtics in the first round.
  • The Knicks have already been eliminated.

Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic (7 ET, League Pass)

  • The Heat are locked into the No. 1 seed. Miami will face the second survivor of the Play-In Tournament (Nets, Cavaliers, Hawks or Hornets) in the first round.
  • The Magic have already been eliminated.

Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7 ET, League Pass)

  • The 76ers are guaranteed to have home court in the playoffs. The No. 4 seed is the most likely scenario, but if they win and the Celtics lose, the 76ers will take the No. 3 seed. Philadelphia will either play Toronto or Chicago in the first round.
  • The Pistons have already been eliminated.

Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8:30 ET, League Pass)

  • The Bulls are already locked into the No. 6 seed and could face the Celtics, Bucks or 76ers in the first round since each of those teams could be the No. 3 seed.
  • The Timberwolves will host the LA Clippers in a Play-In game on Tuesday. The winner of that game will clinch the No. 7 seed and advance to play the Grizzlies in the first round. The loser will host the winner of Spurs-Pelicans in the Play-In Tournament and battle for the No. 8 seed, with the winner of that game playing the Suns in the first round.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks (9:30 ET, League Pass)

  • To climb to third, the Mavericks would need to win and the Warriors would need to lose. Otherwise, Dallas will end up the No. 4 seed. The Mavericks will either face the Jazz or Nuggets in the first round.
  • San Antonio is locked into 10th place and will play at New Orleans in the first round of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will play the loser of Timberwolves-Clippers and battle for the No. 8 seed.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets (9:30 ET, League Pass)

  • Only one scenario exists that would see Denver clinch the No. 5 seed: a Nuggets win and Jazz loss. Any other combination will see Denver finish as the No. 6 seed with its opponent (Golden State or Dallas) still to be decided.
  • The Lakers have already been eliminated.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Clippers (9:30 ET, League Pass)

  • The Clippers are locked into eighth place and will visit the Timberwolves in the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will clinch the seventh seed and play the Grizzlies in the first round. The loser of Clippers-Timberwolves would play the winner of Spurs-Pelicans for the eighth seed, with the winner of that game playing the Suns in the first round.
  • The Thunder have already been eliminated.

Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans (9:30 ET, TNT)

  • The Warriors will clinch the No. 3 seed with a win or a Mavericks loss. If the Warriors lose and the Mavericks win, the Warriors will be the No. 4 seed. Golden State will face the Nuggets or Jazz in the first round.
  • The Pelicans clinched ninth place in the Play-In Tournament and will host the Spurs on Tuesday.

Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns (9:30 ET, League Pass)

  • The Suns are locked into first place in the Western Conference and will play the second survivor of the Play-In Tournament (Timberwolves, Clippers, Pelicans or Spurs).
  • The Kings have already been eliminated.

Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 ET, League Pass)

  • The math is simple for Utah: Win to clinch the No. 5 seed. A loss and Nuggets victory, however, would drop the Jazz to the No. 6 seed. Utah will face either the Mavericks or Warriors in the first round.
  • The Trail Blazers have already been eliminated.



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