In a dramatic conclusion to the NBA regular season, the unexpected Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the top seed in the Western Conference, surpassing defending champions Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Thunder’s decisive victory over the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks sealed their position atop the West, marking the first time in NBA history that three teams entered their final games tied for the number one seed.
Despite the Nuggets’ win over the Memphis Grizzlies, their head-to-head record with the Thunder was not enough to secure the top spot. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves’ defeat to the Phoenix Suns dashed their hopes of claiming the coveted position. The Suns, on the other hand, clinched the sixth seed and will face the Timberwolves again in the first round of the playoffs.
In a star-studded matchup in New Orleans, LeBron James showcased his brilliance, recording his 112th career triple-double to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over the Pelicans. The Lakers’ win secured eighth place in the West, setting up a play-in tournament clash against the Pelicans for the seventh seed.
Despite concerns over Anthony Davis’ late injury scare, the Lakers displayed dominance in the paint, outscoring the Pelicans to secure their spot in the play-in tournament. With James leading the charge, the Lakers are poised to make a strong playoff push.
In the race for the final play-in berth, the Golden State Warriors secured their spot with a victory over the Utah Jazz. Despite resting key players Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Warriors secured their place in the play-in tournament, where they will face the Sacramento Kings.
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks clinched the second seed with a thrilling overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls. Jalen Brunson’s heroics, including a crucial pull-up shot to force overtime, propelled the Knicks to their 50th win of the season.
With the Knicks leapfrogging the Milwaukee Bucks for the second seed, the Bucks fell to the Orlando Magic, who clinched the fifth seed behind Paolo Banchero’s stellar performance.
The Indiana Pacers secured the sixth seed with a dominant victory over the Atlanta Hawks, setting up a first-round clash with the Bucks. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the Charlotte Hornets, finishing fourth and earning a first-round matchup against the Magic.
In the play-in tournament, the Miami Heat secured eighth place with a victory over the Toronto Raptors, setting up a showdown with the Philadelphia 76ers. The winner of the play-in tournament will advance to the playoffs, while the loser will face the winner of the clash between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff berth.
