The NBA regular season comes to a close Sunday, though fans know they won’t have to wait long for even more meaningful basketball. The Play-In Tournament is set to start Tuesday, leading into the start of the playoffs on Saturday, April 20.
For 20 franchises, the dream will still be alive when the season ends on Sunday. We already know who they are: 10 teams have been eliminated from contention, leaving the remaining 20 to battle for seeding.
Because of the Play-In Tournament, just getting into the final 20 isn’t necessarily good enough. Teams will do everything they can to secure their spot in the playoffs with a top-six seed and get those extra days of rest. That fight will come down to Sunday for some.
Here’s a look at Sunday’s NBA schedule and which scenarios are still possible entering the final day of action.
MORE: Watch select NBA games with Sling
What NBA games are on today?
All 30 NBA teams are set to play Sunday, setting up for a thrilling finish to the regular season.
The Eastern Conference will play at 1 p.m. ET, with the Pistons the only exception because there are an uneven number of teams in each conference. Detroit will face the Spurs in a battle of two non-contenders at 3:30 p.m. ET, up against all the Western Conference action.
Plenty of games have potential seeding implications, even if they involve teams safely in the field already.
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| Wizards vs. Celtics | 1 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Hornets vs. Cavaliers | 1 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Hawks vs. Pacers | 1 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Raptors vs. Heat | 1 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Bulls vs. Knicks | 1 p.m. | ESPN | Sling |
| Bucks vs. Magic | 1 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Nets vs. 76ers | 1 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Lakers vs. Pelicans | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN | Sling |
| Jazz vs. Warriors | 3:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Rockets vs. Clippers | 3:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Suns vs. Timberwolves | 3:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Trail Blazers vs. Kings | 3:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Pistons vs. Spurs | 3:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Mavericks vs. Thunder | 3:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass | |
| Nuggets vs. Grizzlies | 3:30 p.m. | NBA League Pass |
Today’s NBA playoff-clinching scenarios
The NBA released the possible scenarios for both conferences heading into Sunday. For the Eastern Conference, that includes three teams — the Bucks, Knicks and Cavaliers — jostling for the No. 2 seed.
Complete Eastern Conference Playoff and Play-In scenarios for tomorrow’s games ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zGDZlqLTrU
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 13, 2024
The Western Conference will have three teams battling for the No. 1 seed in the Thunder, Timberwolves and Nuggets.
Complete Western Conference Playoff and Play-In scenarios for tomorrow’s games ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WQ1nLxuiIh
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 13, 2024
Here is the basic explanation of what could still happen:
East
- No. 1 seed: Celtics
- No. 2 seed: Bucks, Knicks or Cavaliers
- No. 3 seed: Knicks, Bucks or Cavaliers
- No. 4 seed: Cavaliers, Bucks or Knicks
- No. 5 seed: Magic, Pacers, 76ers or Heat
- No. 6 seed: Pacers, Magic, 76ers or Heat
- No. 7 seed: 76ers, Magic, Pacers or Heat
- No. 8 seed: Heat, Magic, Pacers or 76ers
- No. 9 seed: Bulls
- No. 10 seed: Hawks
West
- No. 1 seed: Thunder, Timberwolves or Nuggets
- No. 2 seed: Timberwolves, Thunder or Nuggets
- No. 3 seed: Nuggets, Timberwolves or Thunder
- No. 4 seed: Clippers
- No. 5 seed: Mavericks
- No. 6 seed: Pelicans or Suns
- No. 7 seed: Pelicans or Suns
- No. 8 seed: Lakers, Kings or Warriors
- No. 9 seed: Kings, Lakers or Warriors
- No. 10 seed: Warriors, Kings or Lakers
Updated NBA standings 2024
Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Celtics* | 63-18 | — |
| 2. | Bucks* | 49-32 | 14 |
| 3. | Knicks* | 49-32 | 14 |
| 4. | Cavaliers* | 48-33 | 15 |
| 5. | Magic | 46-35 | 17 |
| 6. | Pacers | 46-35 | 17 |
| 7. | 76ers | 46-35 | 17 |
| 8. | Heat | 45-36 | 18 |
| 9. | Bulls** | 39-42 | 24 |
| 10. | Hawks** | 36-45 | 27 |
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched Play-In Tournament berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Nets, Raptors, Hornets, Wizards, Pistons
Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Thunder* | 56-25 | — |
| 2. | Timberwolves* | 56-25 | — |
| 3. | Nuggets* | 56-25 | — |
| 4. | Clippers* | 51-30 | 5 |
| 5. | Mavericks* | 50-31 | 6 |
| 6. | Pelicans | 49-32 | 7 |
| 7. | Suns | 48-33 | 8 |
| 8. | Lakers** | 46-35 | 10 |
| 9. | Kings** | 45-36 | 11 |
| 10. | Warriors** | 45-36 | 11 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched Play-In Tournament berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Rockets, Jazz, Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, Spurs
NBA Playoffs and Play-In Tournament bracket
The NBA Playoff bracket, including the Play-In Tournament, will be settled once Sunday’s games are done.
The Play-In Tournament is set to start on Tuesday, April 16, while the NBA Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 20.
How will the 2024 NBA Playoffs work?
- The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The teams that finish No. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots. Teams No. 7-10 will enter the Play-In Tournament.
- Each conference’s No. 7 and No. 8 teams will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
- Each conference’s No. 9 and No. 10 teams will face off, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.
- The loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game and the winner of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
- Beyond the Play-In Tournament, the 2024 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals.
