NBA regular season: Biggest questions, what to watch in final week
The 2025-26 NBA regular season is formally coming to an in depth, however no want to fear, basketball playoffs it is simply across the nook. The seeding roots in each the East and the West are starting to warmth up, with play-in match and first-round matchups turning into clearer each day.
Five groups in the West have guaranteed their spots in the playoffs, with the Oklahoma City Thunder clinching the division for the third season in a row and on a quest to grow to be the primary repeat champions since 2018. In the East, 4 groups have clinched a playoff berth, with the play-in image nonetheless being determined in the final remaining days of the season.
Our NBA insiders break down the most important issues to watch in the previous couple of days of the regular season, together with which postseason seeding races will come down to the wire, what last-minute award campaigning we should always hold our eyes on and even which lottery-bound groups are doing in their final week of basketball.
What’s crucial factor left to be determined in the East playoff race?
The one factor that is sure on the prime of the East playoff image is that the Detroit Pistonsregardless of dropping Cade Cunningham for the final few weeks of the regular season with a collapsed lung, he’ll end with the highest seed in the convention. After that? Good luck. The Boston Celtics are doubtless to wrap up the second spot, though they nonetheless have some work to do to formally lock it in. The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers will doubtless go proper down to the season’s final days earlier than deciding who will end third and fourth, respectively, and the Atlanta Hawksthe doubtless fifth-place finisher proper now, will play a component in that.
Atlanta hosts New York on Monday, after which has a home-and-home with Cleveland on Wednesday and Friday. How these video games play out will go a great distance towards figuring out which crew will face the Hawks in the primary spherical of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors are tied for the sixth and final spot in the East standings with 4 video games to go — and with Toronto’s dwelling loss to the Sacramento Kings looming giant as a sport that would show pricey by the tip of subsequent week. –Tim Bontemps
What’s the most important query for the present East play-in groups?
Is there a possible play-in crew that may make noise in the postseason? If the Charlotte Hornets find yourself in the play-in, they’d be probably the most harmful crew that would come out of it. After a 16-28 begin, the Hornets have been surging since January and have crushed the likes of the Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Boston. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller They are wholesome and motivated. Kon Knueppel you may have been fearless and is a Rookie of the Year favourite.
Remember the Feb. 9 fight between the Hornets and Pistons? The Hornets absolutely nonetheless do. If Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung) is not again to full power, the Hornets might be a first-round challenger. And if the Hornets face the Celtics, coach Charles Lee could be very acquainted with the Celtics as a former Boston assistant. The Hornets might be a tricky out regardless of their lack of playoff expertise, given how explosive and random their offense will be and the way assured they have been since January. — Ohm Youngmisuk
What’s crucial factor left to be determined on the prime of the West playoff race?
Can the Spurs catch the Thunder to declare the No. 1 seed? Oklahoma City’s lead is up to three video games with 4 to play, however San Antonio has the season sequence tiebreaker and OKC’s subsequent three video games are on the street. The Spurs are a scorching 27-3 because the begin of February, however the defending champions have made it extraordinarily troublesome to make up any extra floor. The Thunder are 17-1 since reigning (and certain repeating) MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an prolonged absence due to an stomach pressure.
The Denver Nuggetstied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the third seed in the West, may have a big say in whether or not the Thunder or Spurs land in the highest spot. After defeating the Spurs in Saturday’s overtime thrillerDenver’s remaining schedule features a dwelling sport towards the Thunder on Friday and a season-ending go to to San Antonio on Sunday. –Tim MacMahon
What is the most important query for the groups with the 3- to 6-seeds?
With Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) sidelined indefinitely and Austin Reaves (oblique injury) out for the rest of the regular season, will LA have the option to safe home-court benefit in the primary spherical? Even if they’re again for Game 1 of the opening spherical, will they have the option to reestablish the rhythm and conditioning they’d in the second half of the season? And will the seeding for the No. 5 Houston Rockets and the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves come down to their sport towards each other in Houston on April 10? — Dave McMenamin
What concerning the West play-in?
Does Stephen Curry‘s sudden availability alter the picture? It will not shake up the standings. The Golden State Warriors it appears locked into the tenth slot. The Phoenix Suns look settled in the seventh slot. The Portland Trail Blazers and LA Clippersin the meantime, are battling it out for eighth — they usually face one another Friday evening.
But Curry’s reappearance after a two-month absence generates a extra fearsome model of the Warriors popping out of the underside of the play-in bracket. If he can look anyplace close to himself in the final week — and Kristaps Porzingis continues to be wholesome and productive — the Warriors grow to be an actual contender to grow to be the second tenth seed ever to muscle into the playoffs. If Curry is restricted or compelled out of the lineup due to his knee, the Warriors face a fast and quiet exit. –Anthony Slater
Which sidelined star most wants to return earlier than his crew begins taking part in in the postseason?
Cade Cunningham performed simply 5 minutes on March 17 earlier than departing early, and he hasn’t performed since, due to a collapsed lung. The Pistons clearly want him if they need to make their first deep playoff run since 2008.
However, one constructive signal is that the Pistons have not missed a step in Cunningham’s absence, going 8-2 with a plus-11.9 internet score in that span. Both losses got here in time beyond regulation. Detroit could be in nice form if its supporting forged retains taking part in that effectively — with a wholesome Cunningham again in the fold. –Zach Kram
What ought to followers of lottery-bound groups be paying consideration to this week?
Expect a whole lot of dropping from the groups that want to lose. Entering the week, Washington, Brooklyn and Indiana created a hair of separation for the underside three spots and prime odds — however there’s nonetheless extra left to play out and a handful of remaining matchups with lottery implications.
The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets play on Thursday — a sport that somebody you may have to win. Beyond that, the Kings and Utah Jazzthe trio of the Dallas MavericksAtlanta (decide through New Orleans Pelicans) and Memphis Grizzliesand the Chicago Bulls–Milwaukee Bucks pair are nonetheless sitting shut in the standings. Every lotto mixture issues to these groups, contemplating the standard of expertise on the prime of this draft class. –Jeremy Woo
Are there any awards nonetheless up for grabs, and if that’s the case, who can steal them in the final week?
This would possibly go towards standard considering, however I truly do not suppose so. This does promise to be a yr the place the MVP award and Rookie of the Year might be nearer than regular. However, Tim Bontemps’ polling suggests the citizens is extensively leaning towards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kon Knueppel. (The race for prime rookie did add some drama over the weekend, when Cooper Flagg scored 96 factors throughout a historic two-game performance.) Even if the Spurs move the Thunder for the highest seed, Bontemps’ dependable projection suggests the margin is simply too nice for Victor Wembanyama to move SGA.
There aren’t any different life like MVP winners at this level. But Wembanyama, so long as he reaches 64 video games performed (plus NBA Cup sport bonus), would possibly win Defensive Player of the Year unanimously. Coach of the Year may have a diverse vote, however JB Bickerstaff and Joe Mazzulla, the 2 strongest candidates, have their resumes set. Jalen Duren‘s super manufacturing since Cade Cunningham went down has put him in a robust place for the Most Improved Player award. Keldon Johnson simply went over 1,000 factors off the bench for the Spurs and certain has the Sixth Man award cornered. –Brian Windhorst
How will the 65-game rule play a task in the final week?
There are nonetheless a handful of former award winners, together with Nikola Jokic (62 video games), Kawhi Leonard (61), Evan Mobley (62) and Pascal Siakam (62), who’ve but to attain the minimal 65-game standards to grow to be eligible for postseason honors. Each has 4 video games remaining.
Doncic will fall one sport brief due to a hamstring pressure that ended his regular season, however he can apply for an exception. Doncic missed two video games for the beginning of his daughter in December.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyamathis yr’s favourite for Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA and in consideration for MVP, was not eligible final season however will attain the factors Monday at dwelling towards Philadelphia.
Deni Avdija He was named an All-Star for the primary time and is a candidate for All-NBA, however he can’t miss a sport in the final week to grow to be eligible.
One title not on the listing is Anthony Edwards. He was named to the All-NBA second crew in 2024-25 however won’t meet the 65-game rule despite being third in scoring this season. — Bobby Marks
Notable gamers already eligible: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Johnson, Jaylen Brown, James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Kris Dunn, Bam Adebayo, Ryan Rollins, Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Tyrese Maxey, De’Aaron Fox, Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes.
