While the Eastern Conference bracket was already decided going in to the final day of NBA action on Sunday, an abundance of potential playoff scenarios remained up in the air in the Western Conference.
The Denver Nuggets clinched the fourth seed with a 126-111 win over the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Clippers clinched the fifth seed with a 124-119 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors, and the Anthony Edward-less Minnesota Timberwolves clinched the sixth and final playoff spot with a 116-105 win over the Utah Jazz, forcing the Warriors into the Play-In tournament.
In the West, the Play-In action will start with the winner of a game between No. 7 Golden State and No. 8 Memphis, the winner looking to move on and play No. 2 Houston. Then, the loser of the first Play-In game will play the winner of a game between the No. 9 Sacramento Kings and No. 10 Dallas Mavericks for the right to play the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Los Angeles Lakers will play the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series, and the Nuggets will play the Clippers in the 4-5 series.
The final Western Conference standings are as follows:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Houston Rockets
3. Los Angeles Lakers
4. Denver Nuggets
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Golden State Warriors
8. Memphis Grizzlies
9. Sacramento Kings
10. Dallas Mavericks
Friday's full slate of NBA games answered the only question remaining in the East – who was going to play who.
The Indiana Pacers lost to the Orlando Magic, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons and the seeding for one through 10 was secured with one day of games remaining on the schedule.
The final Eastern Conference standings are as follows:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Boston Celtics
3. New York Knicks
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Detroit Pistons
7. Orlando Magic
8. Atlanta Hawks
9. Chicago Bulls
10. Miami Heat
The East Play-In starts with the winner of a game between the No. 7 seed Magic and No. 8 Hawks aiming to move on to play the No. 2 Celtics. Then, the loser of the first Play-In game will play the winner of a game between the No. 9 Chicago Bulls and No. 10 Miami Heat for the right to play the dominant first-place Cavaliers.
The New York Knicks will play the upstart Pistons in the 3-6 series, the Pacers will play the Bucks in the 4-5 series.
