After an thrilling six months, the 2023-24 NBA common season will come to an finish on Sunday with a action-packed slate that options all 30 groups. All 15 video games will happen in two home windows, one at 1 p.m. ET and the opposite at 3:30 p.m. ET. The primary will function seven all-Japanese Convention matchups, whereas the second can have seven all-Western Convention showdowns and a gathering between the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs. 

Heading into Sunday, there are some things we all know:

Every thing else continues to be up for grabs. Forward of Sunday, this is a take a look at every part that is nonetheless at stake:

Three groups battling for the No. 1 seed out West

The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets have been scrapping excessive spot within the West for months, and there’s nothing to separate them heading into the ultimate day of the season. They’re all 56-25, which makes this the primary time in NBA historical past that three groups have the equivalent data after 81 video games and all have an opportunity to earn the No. 1 seed. 

Here is a take a look at the video games for every staff:

The Thunder at present maintain the higher hand, as there are 4 situations wherein they get the No. 1 seed, in comparison with three situations the place it goes to the Timberwolves and only one the place the Nuggets end on high. Here is a chart from the league that lays out all of the potential outcomes. 

Pelicans vs. Suns for the ultimate automated playoff spot

Barely decrease down the desk, there’s one other massive race happening between the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns for the No. 6 seed, which is the ultimate automated playoff spot. 

The Pelicans have a one-game lead and management their future. If they will beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, they will earn the sixth seed and file their first 50-win season since 2008. Even when they lose, they may nonetheless end sixth if the Suns additionally lose to the Timberwolves. The one method for the Suns to leap into sixth and assure a fourth consecutive playoff berth is that if they beat the Timberwolves and the Pelicans lose. 

All eyes on the West Play-In 

Not one of the 4 Play-In spots within the West are set. Whichever one of many Pelicans or Suns doesn’t get sixth will drop all the way down to seventh and host the No. 7 vs. 8 Play-In sport. It’s anybody’s guess how the opposite three spots shake out between the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. 

The Lakers have a one-game lead on each groups and management their very own future within the race for eighth, whereas the Kings are within the driver’s seat for ninth and the Warriors will need assistance to maneuver up. Every staff, although has a path to every seed. Here is a take a look at the ultimate matchups for all three groups, and the assorted methods this might play out:

Can the Bucks maintain on to No. 2 within the East?

Initially of the month, the Milwaukee Bucks had a 2.5-game lead on the Cleveland Cavaliers and a three-game benefit on the New York Knicks within the race for the No. 2 seed. Now, heading into the ultimate day of the season, any three of these groups might end in second place. 

The Bucks are simply 2-5 in April and will probably be with out Giannis Antetokounmpo for his or her ultimate sport in opposition to the Orlando Magic after he went down with a calf pressure when the 2 groups met earlier within the week. As for the Knicks, they’ve received 4 video games in a row to present themselves an opportunity on the No. 2 seed for the primary time since 2013. The Cavaliers, in the meantime, have finished simply sufficient recently to place themselves within the combine. 

If the Bucks win tomorrow, the standings will keep as they’re now, with the Bucks in second, the Knicks in third and the Cavaliers in fourth, no matter what occurs within the different video games. Ought to the Bucks lose, nonetheless, issues get very attention-grabbing. Here is a take a look at every staff’s matchup, and the doable situations:

• Bucks at Magic
• Knicks vs. Bulls
• Cavaliers vs. Hornets

4 groups for 2 automated playoff spots

In case you thought there was loads happening with the three-team battle for 2-4 within the East, simply wait till you see what is going on on with the 5-8 race. The Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers all have the identical 46-35 file, whereas the Miami Warmth are at 45-36, and any of the 4 groups might end in any of the 4 obtainable slots.  

The large prizes, after all, are the Nos. 5 and 6 seeds, which include automated playoff berths. The Nos. 7 and eight seeds will probably be despatched to the Play-In Match, the place they face the potential for winding up within the lottery. 

What makes this example so sophisticated is that not one of the groups management their very own future, not even the Magic, who at present occupy fifth place. Even when they win their ultimate sport, there is a state of affairs the place they drop a spot to sixth. As such, nothing will probably be settled till all 4 groups full their video games. 

Here is the matchup for all 4 groups, and the seemingly limitless set of doable outcomes:

• Magic vs. Bucks
• Pacers vs. Hawks
• Sixers vs. Nets
• Warmth vs. Raptors

Time to consider the lottery

Down on the different finish of the standings, there’s in attention-grabbing “race” happening between the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards for the worst file within the league, and one other between the Hornets, Path Blazers and Spurs for the third-worst file. 

The Pistons and Wizards are already locked in as the 2 worst groups, however the Pistons’ shock win over the Mavericks on Friday means they’re now just one sport behind the Wizards within the total league standings. If the Pistons win on Sunday — doable in opposition to the Spurs — and the Wizards lose — seemingly in opposition to the Celtics — the 2 groups would end with equivalent 15-67 data. 

In that state of affairs, there can be a coin flip to find out who has greatest lottery odds. Whereas each will obtain a 14% likelihood on the No. 1 decide regardless, the staff with the worst file/greatest odds can not decide worse than fifth total. 

The extra consequential spot up for grabs on Sunday is the third-worst file within the league. The 20-61 Hornets have the within monitor, and a loss to the Cavaliers would guarantee that they end third from the underside. Ought to they win, nonetheless, that opens the door for both the Path Blazers or Spurs, who’re each 21-60, to attract even with a loss. 

Ought to two or extra of this group end with the identical 21-61 file, there can be a coin flip to find out the third-best lottery odds. That’s notable as a result of the three worst data all have a 14% likelihood at profitable the lottery, whereas the fourth-worst staff has a 12.5% likelihood and the fifth-worst staff has a ten.5% likelihood.