Every Possible NBA Playoff Seeding Scenario Entering The Final Night Of The Regular Season

The NBA’s regular season will come to a close on Wednesday night, as 22 teams are in action during a packed slate in the Association. For some, it’s the last game of their season as they will shift focus to the NBA Draft and the upcoming lottery, while others are already locked into their playoff seeding.

In the East, the top five seeds are set: Milwaukee, Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston, and Indiana in that order. However, the bottom three spots out East are up for grabs for four teams, the Magic, Nets, Pistons, and Hornets. In the West, the playoff teams are all set, but outside of the Warriors in the No. 1 seed and Utah in the No. 5 seed, everything from 2-4 and 6-8 is fluid.

There are a number of ways for things to play out on Wednesday night and below we will go through each potential scenario, and what needs to happen for each seeding possibility to happen, starting with the East.

Eastern Conference

Scenario 1: No. 6 Orlando, No. 7 Brooklyn, No. 8 Detroit, No. 9 Charlotte

1. Miami defeats Brooklyn, Orlando defeats Charlotte, Detroit defeats New York, OR
2. Miami defeats Brooklyn, Orlando defeats Charlotte, New York defeats Detroit, OR
3. Miami defeats Brooklyn, Charlotte defeats Orlando, Detroit defeats New York

Scenario 2: No. 6 Brooklyn, No. 7 Orlando, No. 8 Detroit, No. 9 Charlotte

1. Brooklyn defeats Miami, Orlando defeats Charlotte, Detroit defeats New York, OR
2. Brooklyn defeats Miami, Orlando defeats Charlotte, New York defeats Detroit

Scenario 3: No. 6 Brooklyn, No. 7 Orlando, No. 8 Charlotte, No. 9 Detroit

1. Brooklyn defeats Miami, Charlotte defeats Orlando, New York defeats Detroit, OR
2. Miami defeats Brooklyn, Charlotte defeats Orlando, New York defeats Detroit

Scenario 4: No. 6 Brooklyn, No. 7 Detroit, No. 8 Orlando, No. 9 Charlotte

1. Brooklyn defeats Miami, Charlotte defeats Orlando, Detroit defeats New York

Western Conference, Race for 2-4

Scenario 1: No. 2 Houston, No. 3 Denver, No. 4 Portland

1. Minnesota defeats Denver, Portland defeats Sacramento, OR
2. Minnesota defeats Denver, Sacramento defeats Portland

Scenario 2: No. 2 Denver, No. 3 Portland, No. 4 Houston

1. Denver defeats Minnesota, Portland defeats Sacramento

Scenario 3: No. 2 Denver, No. 3 Houston, No. 4 Portland

1. Denver defeats Minnesota, Sacramento defeats Portland

Western Conference, Race 6-8

Scenario 1: No. 6 OKC, No. 7 San Antonio, No. 8 LAC

1. San Antonio defeats Dallas, OKC defeats Milwaukee, LAC defeats Utah, OR
2. San Antonio defeats Dallas, OKC defeats Milwaukee, Utah defeats LAC, OR
3. Dallas defeats San Antonio, OKC defeats Milwaukee, Utah defeats LAC, OR
4. Dallas defeats San Antonio, Milwaukee defeats OKC, Utah defeats LAC

Scenario 2: No. 6 OKC, No. 7 LAC, No. 8 San Antonio

1. Dallas defeats San Antonio, OKC defeats Milwaukee, LAC defeats Utah, OR
2. Dallas defeats San Antonio, Milwaukee defeats OKC, LAC defeats Utah

Scenario 3: No. 6 San Antonio, No. 7 OKC, No. 8 LAC

1. San Antonio defeats Dallas, Milwaukee defeats OKC, Utah defeats LAC

Scenario 4: No. 6 San Antonio, No. 7 LAC, No. 8 OKC

1. San Antonio defeats Dallas, Milwaukee defeats OKC, LAC defeats Utah