On the final day of the regular season, Orlando, Indiana, Philadelphia, and Miami all secured blowout victories in their respective games against Milwaukee, Atlanta, Brooklyn, and Toronto. However, these wins did not change the standings in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference’s playoff chase. The results led to an eighth-seeded Miami Heat facing the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in a play-in game, while the Atlanta Hawks will visit the ninth-seeded Chicago Bulls in an elimination game on the same day. The winner between Miami and Philadelphia will advance to face the No. 2 seed New York Knicks in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the play-in games are scheduled for Tuesday. The matchups will include Sacramento, the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and either Phoenix or New Orleans. The final order in the East standings remained with Boston as the No. 1 seed, followed by New York, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Orlando, Indiana, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, and Atlanta. Orlando’s victory, with 47 wins in total, secured them the Southeast Division title and a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, showing great resilience and determination.
The only position change in the East came between the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, with the New York Knicks edging out Milwaukee to take the second spot. Despite a chance to move up in the standings, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the No. 4 seed, lost their game against Charlotte, relinquishing their opportunity to secure a higher position in the East. Coach Jamahl Mosley of Orlando expressed his pride in his team for their performance, highlighting their resilience and determination throughout the season, making their way back to the playoffs after a challenging journey.
The upcoming play-in games and playoff matchups are set to provide an exciting start to the postseason, with high-stakes games leading to intense competition and thrilling outcomes. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized the intensity and unpredictability of playoff basketball, reflecting on his team’s journey to the NBA Finals from a play-in position last season. As teams prepare for the challenges ahead, the stage is set for compelling matchups and fierce competition as the Eastern and Western Conference teams vie for playoff success and a shot at the championship title.
Overall, the final day of the regular season in the NBA brought about some intense games, with blowout victories for Orlando, Indiana, Philadelphia, and Miami. Despite the results not altering the standings drastically, the stage is set for exciting play-in games and playoff matchups that will determine which teams advance to the next round and ultimately compete for the championship. With teams showcasing resilience and determination throughout the season, the playoffs promise to deliver thrilling moments and intense competition as the quest for the NBA title begins.
