Overview
- Results from Tuesday’s slate locked in Minnesota for a first-round berth, confirmed Phoenix, the Clippers, Portland and Golden State for the West Play-In, and cemented Miami in the East Play-In.
- Detroit has the East’s No. 1 seed, and Oklahoma City can clinch the West’s top spot and the league’s best record with a win over the Clippers or a Spurs loss on Wednesday.
- The East’s No. 5 and No. 6 slots remain open with Atlanta, Toronto, Philadelphia, Orlando and Charlotte in range, and the 43-36 Sixers sit seventh with key tiebreakers over the Magic and Hornets but not over the Hawks.
- The Play-In Tournament runs April 14–17, with 7 vs. 8 for the No. 7 seed and 9 vs. 10 for a shot at the No. 8 seed, which adds do-or-die stakes before the 16-team playoffs begin.
- In the West, Denver, the Lakers and Houston are separated by a game for seeds 3–5, a shuffle that will determine home court in round one and could change who faces the Thunder later.