2022 Playoff Bracket Updates: Latest Scenarios on the Last Day of the Season

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

The final day of the regular NBA season 2021-22 features 15 games that will have a big impact on the NBA Finals and Play-In Tournament. Stay tuned and see how the main storylines around the league shake out as the season draws to a close.

Recent playoff seeding opportunities

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. Saint Anthony

Updates and scenarios from all 15 games

Brooklyn Nets 134, Indiana Pacers 126

  • The Nets survived a couple of races by the Pacers to win and win a seventh-place finish. They will host Cleveland in their first game in 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.
  • Pacers have already been eliminated.

Cleveland Cavaliers 133, Milwaukee Bucks 115

  • Milwaukee’s loss leaves the door open for Boston to snatch seed No. 2 with a win over Memphis, which would leave the Bucks as No. 3 and face the Chicago Bulls in the first round.
  • The Cavaliers’ victory kept them in eighth place. They are to play in Brooklyn in their first match in the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game becomes the seventh seeded and plays 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 in 10th place. They are to play in Atlanta in their first match in the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will play against the loser of the 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 a ninth place and home advantage in a single-elimination Play-In match against the Charlotte Hornets. The winner goes on to a shot on the eighth seed, while the loser will miss the playoffs.
  • Rockets have already been eliminated.

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

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

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

  • Raptors have already won No. 5 seed. They must face either the 76ers (most likely scenario) or the Celtics in the first round.
  • The Knicks have already been eliminated.

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

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

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

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

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

  • The Bulls are already locked in the No. 6 seed and could face the Celtics, Bucks or 76ers in the first round, as each of those teams could be the No. 3 seed.
  • The Timberwolves host the LA Clippers in a Play-In match on Tuesday. The winner of that game will win the No. 7 seed and advance to the Grizzlies in the first round. The loser will host the winner of the Spurs-Pelicans in the Play-In Tournament and fight for seed No. 8, 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 place, the Mavericks had to win and the Warriors had to lose. Otherwise, Dallas will end up as the No. 4 seed. The Mavericks face either the Jazz or the Nuggets in the first round.
  • San Antonio is locked in 10th place and will play in New Orleans in the first round of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that game will play against the loser of the Timberwolves-Clippers and fight for seed No. 8.

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

  • There is only one scenario that would make Denver win the No. 5 seed: a Nuggets win and Jazz loss. Any other combination will see Denver finish as the No. 6 seed, while the opponent (Golden State or Dallas) still needs to be settled.
  • The Lakers have already been eliminated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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