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It’s all about the drama. A few years back, the NBA borrowed an idea from European soccer leagues and had all its teams play at the same time — or at least within the same conference — so there was no advantage to knowing what was needed. It sets up a situation in which two games are ending nearly simultaneously, with major playoff implications.
This year, nine of the 15 games on Sunday have some level of postseason implications. Here is everything you need to know.
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Eastern Conference
The top four seeds in the East are locked in: 1) Detroit; 2) Boston; 3) New York; 4) Cleveland.
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Atlanta can lock up the No. 5 seed with a win in Miami, setting up a first-round matchup with Cleveland. However, an Atlanta loss combined with a Toronto win would move the Raptors up to fifth and drop the Hawks to sixth (and a first-round meeting with New York). A Toronto loss also secures Atlanta the No. 6 seed.
If Toronto loses, it could fall to seventh if Orlando wins, which brings us to the next games that matter.
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Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
If Orlando can win on the road, it locks into the No. 7 seed, with an outside chance of jumping past Toronto to No. 6 and avoiding the play-in if the Raptors lose at home to the Nets (unlikely but not impossible). However, if Orlando loses in Boston, Philadelphia would jump up to No. 7 it can win at home over the tanking Bucks.
Orlando and Philadelphia will likely face each other in the first round of the play-in, but the No. 7 seed will host that game.
Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Charlotte had an impressive end to the season, but needs one more win to secure the No. 9 seed and be at home for the first of two play-in games it must win to make the playoffs. If Charlotte loses and Miami wins, the Heat jump up to ninth and host the play-in game.
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Western Conference
The top two seeds are locked in:…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-must-watch-games-final-173427253.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-11 17:34:00
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