NBA playoff scenarios, regular season finale

Entering Sunday’s 15-game slate to shut out the regular season, solely half of the postseason seeds have been locked in place. That means there are 10 seeds that might change arms on Sunday. Here’s a breakdown of every staff’s seeding eventualities.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The prime 4 groups are locked into their seeds getting into the regular-season finale.

• No. 1 Detroit (59-22)
• No. 2 Boston (55-26)
• No. 3 New York (53-28)
• No. 4 Cleveland (51-30)

The remaining groups within the East haven’t been locked right into a seed. Here is the place every can end, and the way they will get there.

Atlanta (46-35): The Hawks enter Sunday’s recreation at Miami (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 5 and may end both No. 5 or No. 6.

A Hawks win on Sunday locks up No. 5 no matter different outcomes. They can nonetheless get No. 5 with a loss so long as Orlando wins or Toronto losses. The Hawks would fall to No. 6 with a loss coupled with an Orlando loss and Toronto win.

• No. 5 Finish: With a win, the Hawks lock up No. 5. With a loss, the Hawks want a win by Orlando or a loss by Toronto
• No. 6 Finish: With a loss and an Orlando loss plus a Toronto win

Toronto (45-36): The Raptors enter Sunday’s recreation vs. Brooklyn (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 6 and may end No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8.

A Raptors win on Sunday locks up a prime six seed. However, with a loss they will end No. 6 (with losses by Atlanta and Orlando), No. 7 (with wins by both Orlando or Philadelphia) or No. 8 (with wins by each Orlando and Philadelphia).

• No. 5 Finish: With a win and losses by Atlanta and Orlando
• No. 6 Finish: With a loss and losses by Orlando & Philadelphia
• No. 7 Finish: With a loss and wins by both Orlando or Philadelphia (however not each)
• No. 8 Finish: With a loss and wins by each Orlando and Philadelphia

Orlando (45-36): The Magic enter Sunday’s recreation at Boston (6 ET, ESPN) at No. 7 and may end No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8.

A Magic win on Sunday ensures not less than a No. 7 end. 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.

• No. 6 Finish: With a win and a Toronto loss
• No. 7 Finish: With a win and a Toronto win or with a loss and a Philadelphia loss
• No. 8 Finish: With a loss and a Philadelphia win

Philadelphia (44-37): The 76ers enter Sunday’s recreation vs. Milwaukee (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 8 and may end No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8.

A Sixers win on Sunday offers them an opportunity at a No. 6 end, whereas a loss ensures a No. 8 end. A Sixers win would elevate them to No. 6 if each the Raptors and Magic lose, and it might elevate them to No. 7 if both the Raptors or Magic lose.

• No. 6 Finish: With a win and losses by each Toronto and Orlando
• No. 7 Finish: With a win and a loss by both Toronto or Orlando (however not each)
• No. 8 Finish: With a loss, or with wins by each Toronto and Orlando

Charlotte (43-38): The Hornets enter Sunday’s recreation at New York (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 9, they usually can end No. 9 or No. 10.

The Hornets are locked into the 9 vs. 10 Play-In recreation with Miami. Sunday will decide which staff has home-court in that single-elimination recreation. A Hornets win or a Heat loss locks Charlotte into No. 9, whereas a Hornets loss coupled with a Heat win would drop Charlotte to No. 10.

• No. 9 Finish: With a win or a Miami loss
• No. 10 Finish: With a loss and a Miami win

Miami (42-39): The Heat enter Sunday’s recreation vs. Atlanta (6 ET, League Pass) at No. 10. But Miami can end No. 9 or No. 10.

A Heat win coupled with a Hornets loss is the one approach for Miami to leap to No. 9 and host the 9 vs. 10 Play-In recreation because the Heat look to earn a fourth consecutive playoff berth by way of the Play-In Tournament.

• No. 9 Finish: With a win and a Charlotte loss
• No. 10 Finish: With a loss or a Charlotte win
  

  ---

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The following groups are locked into their seeds getting into Sunday.

• No. 1 Oklahoma City (64-17)
• No. 2 San Antonio (62-19)
• No. 5 Houston (51-30)
• No. 6 Minnesota (48-33)
• No. 7 Phoenix (44-37)
• No. 10 Golden State (37-44)

That leaves 4 groups trying to enhance their standing on Sunday, together with a key distinction between the highest half and backside half of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.

Denver (53-28): The Nuggets enter Sunday’s recreation at San Antonio (8:30 ET, ESPN) at No. 3 and may end No. 3 or No. 4.

A Nuggets win clinches the No. 3 seed, whereas a loss coupled with a Lakers win would drop the Nuggets to No. 4 by way of tiebreaker.

• No. 3 Finish: With a win or a Lakers loss
• No. 4 Finish: With a loss and a Lakers win

Los Angeles (52-29): The Lakers enter Sunday’s recreation vs. Utah (8:30 ET, League Pass) at No. 4 and may end No. 3 or No. 4.

A Lakers win coupled with a Nuggets loss earns the Lakers the No. 3 by way of tiebreaker. A Lakers loss locks them into No. 4.

• No. 3 Finish: With a win and a Nuggets loss
• No. 4 Finish: With a loss or a Nuggets win

Portland (41-40): The Blazers enter Sunday’s recreation vs. Sacramento (8:30 ET, League Pass) at No. 8 and may end No. 8 or No. 9.

A Blazers win clinches the No. 8 seed, whereas a loss coupled with a Clippers win would drop the Blazers to No. 9.

• No. 8 Finish: With a win or a Clippers loss
• No. 9 Finish: With a loss and a Clippers win

LA (41-40): The Clippers enter Sunday’s recreation vs. Golden State (8:30 ET, League Pass) at No. 9 and may end No. 8 or No. 9.

Since Portland owns the tiebreaker, the one approach for the Clippers to succeed in No. 8 is with a win and a Blazers loss. A Clippers lose locks them into No. 9.

• No. 8 Finish: With a win and a Blazers loss
• No. 9 Finish: With a loss or a Blazers win