The Celtics can go for either the second, third or fourth seed on Sunday.
The final day of the 2021-22 NBA regular season features 15 games that will have a major impact on the NBA playoffs and play-in tournament. Follow us and see how the main story arcs around the league unfold as the season comes to a close.
Latest playoff seeding opportunities
east conference
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
Western Conference
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
Updates and scenarios from all 15 games
Brooklyn Nets 134, Indiana Pacers 126
- The Nets survived a few runs from the Pacers to win and take seventh place. They will host Cleveland in their first game of the play-in tournament. The winner of that game receives seventh place and plays either Milwaukee or Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
- The Pacers have already been eliminated.
Cleveland Cavaliers 133, Milwaukee Bucks 115
- Milwaukee’s loss leaves the door open for Boston to grab the No. 2 with a win over Memphis, which would leave the Bucks in 3rd place and face the Chicago Bulls in the first round.
- The Cavaliers’ win kept them in eighth place. They will play in their first game of the Play-In tournament in Brooklyn. The winner of this game will be the seventh seed and will play either Milwaukee or Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
Charlotte Hornets 124, Washington Wizards 108
- Charlotte did what she could by beating Houston, but wins from the other play-in teams kept the Hornets in 10th place. They will play their first game in the play-in tournament in Atlanta. The winner of that game will play the loser, Cavaliers-Nets, for eighth and final place in the playoffs.
- The wizards have already been eliminated.
Atlanta Hawks 130, Houston Rockets 114
- Atlanta’s win helped give them ninth-place finish and home field advantage in a single-elimination play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets. The winner will advance for a shot at the eighth seed while the loser will miss the playoffs.
- The Rockets have already been eliminated.
The pairings are fixed.
Update on next week’s Meta Quest NBA Play-In tournament schedule ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eWMV1ESPTf
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 10, 2022
Boston Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies (7 ET, TNT)
- The Celtics can secure second place if they win after the Bucks lost on Sunday. Boston can also drop to 4th if they lose and Philadelphia wins.
- Memphis has already secured second place, meeting either Minnesota or the LA Clippers in the first round.
Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks (7 ET, League Pass)
- The Raptors have already won the No. 5 seed. They face either the 76ers (most likely scenario) or the Celtics in the first round.
- The Knicks are already out.
Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic (7 ET, League Pass)
- The heat is trapped in seed #1. Miami meets the second 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 are guaranteed a home game in the playoffs. The number 4 is the most likely scenario, but if they win and the Celtics lose, the 76ers will take the number 3. Philadelphia will play either Toronto or Chicago in the first round.
- The Pistons have already been eliminated.
Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8:30 ET, League Pass)
- The Bulls are already seeded at No. 6 and could face Celtics, Bucks or 76ers in the first round as either of those teams could be No. 3.
- The Timberwolves host the LA Clippers in a play-in game on Tuesday. The winner of that game takes the number 7 and advances to play the Grizzlies in the first round. The loser takes on the Spurs-Pelicans winner in the play-in tournament and vie for the No. 8 seed, with the winner of that game playing the Suns in the first round.
Full Western Conference Playoff Seeding Scenarios Breakdown ⬇️https://t.co/TS4Oemmbsr pic.twitter.com/Tor7mOYbpJ
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 9, 2022
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- To move up to third place, the Mavericks would have to win and the Warriors would have to lose. Otherwise, Dallas will end up at #4. The Mavericks face either Jazz or Nuggets in the first round.
- San Antonio is ranked 10th and is playing in the first round of the Play-In tournament in New Orleans. Playing the loser of Timberwolves-Clippers, the winner of this game is battling for the No. 8 seed.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- There’s only one scenario where Denver would win the No. 5: a Nuggets win and a Jazz loss. Any other combination, Denver finishes as No. 6, with their opponent (Golden State or Dallas) yet to be decided.
- The Lakers are already out.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Clippers (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- The Clippers are in eighth place and will visit the Timberwolves in the Play-In tournament. The winner of that game wins seventh place and plays the Grizzlies in the first round. The Clippers-Timberwolves loser would play the Spurs-Pelicans winner for the eighth seed, with the winner of that game playing the Suns in the first round.
- The Thunders have already been eliminated.
Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans (9:30 ET, TNT)
- The Warriors will be seeded 3rd with a Mavericks win or loss. If the Warriors lose and the Mavericks win, the Warriors will be No. 4. Golden State meets 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 ranked first in the Western Conference and are playing the second survivor of the play-in tournament (Timberwolves, Clippers, Pelicans, or Spurs).
- The Kings have already been eliminated.
Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- The math for Utah is simple: Win to get the #5 seed. However, a loss and a Nuggets win would see the Jazz drop to No. 6. Utah will face either the Mavericks or the Warriors in the first round.
- The Trail Blazers are already out.