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NBA: Play-offs set as season ends

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There was much at stake on the final day of the NBA’s regular season on Sunday, highlighted by the streaking Denver Nuggets securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and the Toronto Raptors climbing to fifth place in the East.

Denver ended the season with 12 consecutive wins after defeating the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs 128-118, dropping the Los Angeles Lakers to No. 4 in the West.

At the bottom of the West standings, the Portland Trail Blazers won to wrap up the eighth seed and a meeting with the No. 7 Phoenix Suns in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Toronto, meanwhile, claimed the No. 5 seed in the East thanks to a win in its finale and losses by the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic.

Atlanta finished sixth and Orlando fell to eighth place and into a matchup with the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers in the Play-In Tournament.

In other news, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers is not expected to return in 2026-27 after concluding a 32-50 season that didn’t lack drama surrounding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The two-time league MVP and 2021 NBA Finals MVP was mentioned in trade rumours leading up to the deadline and wound up appearing in just 36 games due to injuries.

After Milwaukee’s season ended Sunday, however, Antetokounmpo said he was healthy enough to play over the final few weeks and felt it was “disrespectful” for the Bucks to sit him out.

It remains to be seen if Antetokounmpo will play out the final year of his contract next season in Milwaukee or if the sides will decide to move on with a new head coach coming in.

Here are the matchups for the Play-In Tournament and Play-offs:

NBA Play-In Tournament

Tuesday, April 14

East: No. 9 Charlotte (44-38) vs. No 10 Miami (43-39)

West: No. 7 Phoenix (45-37) vs. No. 8 Portland (42-40)

*No. 7/8 winner advances to play-offs as No. 7 seed

*No. 9/10 loser eliminated

Wednesday, April 15

East: No. 7 Philadelphia (45-37) vs. No. 8 Orlando (45-37)

West: No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers (42-40) vs. No. 10 Golden State (37-45)

*No. 7/8 winner advances to play-offs as No. 7 seed

*No. 9/10 loser eliminated

Friday, April 17

East: No. 7/8 loser vs. No. 9/10 winner

West: No. 7/8 loser vs. No. 9/10 winner

*Winners advance to play-offs as No. 8 seeds

First Round

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Detroit (60-22) vs. winner of No. 8 seed

No. 2 Boston (56-26) vs. winner of No. 7 seed

No. 3 New York (53-29) vs. No. 6 Atlanta (46-36)

No. 4 Cleveland (52-30) vs. No. 5 Toronto (46-36)

Western Conference

No. 1 Oklahoma City (64-18) vs. winner of No. 8 seed

No. 2 San Antonio (62-20) vs. winner of No. 7 seed

No. 3 Denver (54-28) vs. No. 6 Minnesota (49-33)

No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers (53-29) vs. No. 5 Houston (52-30)