Nuggets, Lakers, Hawks, Raptors, Magic, Sixers, Hornets, Heat, Blazers and Clippers will lock in postseason spots tonight.
NBA.com Staff
Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks face the Miami Heat with playoff seeding on the line Sunday night.
81 games in.
10 postseason seeds still to be decided, including the third seed out West and last guaranteed Playoff spot in the East.
With all 30 teams in action to close up the regular season, read on for all the stakes and scenarios of Sunday’s finale.
April 12, 2026
What’s At Stake: Sunday’s 15-game slate will decide the remaining half of the postseason bracket
Three Teams, One Seed: One final game for the Raptors, Magic and Sixers to grab the last guaranteed Playoff spot
East’s Ending: Hawks, Hornets and Heat can all shift seeds Sunday
Last Stand Out West: Lakers, Nuggets both have eyes on 3-seed on final day
Rest Of The West: 8th seed up for grabs between Blazers & Clippers, while Flagg finishes rookie campaign
One final full slate…
All 30 teams are in action on the season’s final day, featuring an ESPN doubleheader with the Magic visiting the Celtics (6 ET | Tap To Watch), followed by the Spurs hosting the Nuggets (8:30 ET | Tap To Watch).
After today, the postseason begins with the SoFi Play-In Tournament, Tuesday, April 14 through Friday, April 17. The First Round of the NBA Playoffs begins Saturday, April 18.
The final 15 games of the regular season will determine 10 of the 20 postseason seeds.
Half the field’s seedings could change hands on Sunday. Here’s a breakdown of each team’s scenarios.
Eastern Conference:
Western Conference:
Here’s a visual index of which teams can finish at each seed:
NBAE via Getty Images
Three postseason teams.
One Playoff spot.
The most eventful seeding battle of this Playoff Picture goes down at 6 ET today, 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 only team in this scenario controlling its own destiny, with the added benefit of home court advantage.
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
No. 7 Magic at No. 2 Celtics (ESPN): A sixth straight win and a Raptors loss would guarantee the Magic’s third consecutive Playoff appearance.
But unlike Toronto and Philly, Orlando has to do it on the road, in an arena they haven’t won in since 2022.
Standing in Orlando’s way is a Boston squad that’s taken two of three head-to-head matchups this season, all back in November.
Mitchell Leff/NBAE via Getty Images
Bucks at No. 8 Sixers (League Pass): Philly’s path to a Playoff seed is the most uphill, needing a win and losses from both the Raptors and Magic Sunday. Working in the Sixers’ favor is their 3-0 record against the Bucks this season.
Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
Here’s how the other six East postseason teams close out the regular season — all tipping at 6 ET on League Pass — with three still fighting to determine their seeds.
No. 5 Hawks at No. 10 Heat: Atlanta is locked into the Playoffs for the first time in four years, but its seed and First Round opponent is still up in the air.
Kenneth Richmond/NBAE via Getty Images
No. 9 Hornets at No. 3 Knicks: The Hornets can secure the 9-seed and hosting duties in their Play-In matchup with a win today at MSG.
No. 1 Pistons at Pacers: East-leading Detroit needs one more victory to secure its first 60-win season in 20 years.
Wizards at No. 4 Cavaliers: Cleveland returns to the Playoffs with home court advantage for the fourth straight season.
Sean M. Haffey + Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images
No. 3 Nuggets at No. 2 Spurs (8:30 ET, ESPN): Denver will try to close the regular season with a 12th straight win to clinch the 3-seed, against a 2-seed Spurs team its beaten twice in the last month (2-1 overall).
Jazz at No. 4 Lakers (8:30 ET, League Pass): To move from 4th to 3rd on the season’s final day, LeBron James and the Lakers will need a third consecutive win and to get some help in San Antonio.
Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
The Blazers hold the final puzzle piece of the 2026 Playoff Picture.
Seven remaining West postseason teams finish their regular seasons on League Pass during tonight’s 8:30 ET wave of games, with one seed left to sort.
Kings at No. 8 Blazers: After defeating their direct competition for the 8-seed Friday in the Clippers, the Blazers need one more win to clinch it, hosting a Kings team they’ve gone 3-0 against.
No. 10 Warriors at No. 9 Clippers: Facing the Dubs squad who they currently line up with in the 9/10 Play-In game, a Clips win and a Blazers loss would send LA to Phoenix for the 7/8 Play-In.
Ryan Sun/NBAE via Getty Images
No. 7 Suns at No. 1 Thunder: The top team in the West for the third straight year, OKC seeks its second consecutive 65+ win season.
Grizzlies at No. 5 Rockets: Kevin Durant and Houston have won eight of their last 10 games to lock up 5th in the West, with Amen Thompson coming off a career-high 41-point outing.
Pelicans at No. 6 Wolves: Houston’s two losses in the last 10 games have both come at the hands of the 6-seed Wolves, led by career-best numbers from Anthony Edwards (28.8 ppg), while also showcasing their depth during Ant’s recent knee injury.
Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
Bulls at Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (1,463 pts, 462 reb, 315 ast, 83 stl) puts the finishing touches on a historic rookie season, hosting the Bulls while looking to join Michael Jordan as the only rookies since 1973-74 to lead their teams in total points, rebounds, assists and steals.
Denver's superstar center is the 1st player to lead the NBA in assists and rebounds per game for a single season.
Keep track of the latest scenarios for playoff clinching, seeding and elimination.
The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will take place on April 14-17. The first round of the NBA Playoffs starts on April 18.
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament features the Nos. 7-10 teams in each conference battling for the 7th and 8th playoff seeds.
Denver's superstar center is the 1st player to lead the NBA in assists and rebounds per game for a single season.
Keep track of the latest scenarios for playoff clinching, seeding and elimination.
The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will take place on April 14-17. The first round of the NBA Playoffs starts on April 18.
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament features the Nos. 7-10 teams in each conference battling for the 7th and 8th playoff seeds.
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