By Joe Vardon | The Athletic, 2026-04-12 11:00:37
进入NBA常规赛最后一天，没有任何一组季后赛或附加赛的对阵形势已经敲定，而且一位名副其实的MVP候选人必须在第82场比赛中出场至少20分钟，才能满足奖项评选的资格要求。
去年的今天，由于赛季收官战与高尔夫大满贯赛事撞车，NBA直接撞上了罗里·麦克罗伊 (Rory McIlroy) 历史性的美国大师赛胜利；而今年，NBA的收官周日直到东部时间下午6点才会开赛，这意味着你应该能够看完绿夹克的颁奖仪式，同时也不会错过大多数关键比赛。
在东部，前四名种子位已经确定，分别属于底特律活塞、波士顿凯尔特人、纽约尼克斯和克利夫兰骑士。剩下的六个季后赛席位尚未尘埃落定。在西部，俄克拉荷马城雷霆和圣安东尼奥马刺已经锁定了前两名种子位，而休斯顿火箭确定排名第五，明尼苏达森林狼排名第六，菲尼克斯太阳排名第七，金州勇士排名第十。
此外，三届NBA MVP尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokić) 目前在篮板和助攻榜上领跑全联盟，正在经历他职业生涯数据表现最好的一个赛季，他目前已出战64场比赛。根据联盟规则——球员工会正试图改变这一规则——大多数球员必须出战至少65场比赛才有资格获得MVP等奖项。掘金如果在周日击败马刺，或者湖人输给爵士，他们就能以第三名的身份完赛。而作为球队核心的尼古拉·约基奇因“右腕伤势管理”缺席了周五的比赛。掘金主帅大卫·阿德尔曼 (David Adelman) 表示：“我们将在周六进行讨论。”
“这项规则现在就摆在我们面前，”大卫·阿德尔曼说道，“我们必须做出正确的决定，我们需要带着一个真正的计划进去，明确‘结果会是怎样’。要么让他打够那些时间，要么我们就说，‘顺其自然吧’。”
复习一下，附加赛是为东西部排名第7至第10的球队准备的。第7名和第8名相互对阵，胜者以分区第7种子的身份晋级季后赛。该场比赛的负者将与第9名对阵第10名的胜者交手，最终的胜者以第8种子的身份晋级季后赛。
以下是NBA常规赛最后一天全部15场比赛的看点。(所有时间均为东部时间，下午6点的比赛排在前面。)
亚特兰大老鹰对阵迈阿密热火，下午6点
如果老鹰获胜，他们将锁定东部第5种子，并在季后赛首轮对阵骑士。连续第四年参加附加赛的热火，如果击败老鹰且尼克斯击败黄蜂，他们将排名第9，并在第9 vs 第10的对决中主场迎战夏洛特。老鹰最差的排名是第6（若输球且多伦多获胜），而热火最差可能跌至第10，但两支球队在周日都有理由全力争胜。对老鹰而言，在首轮避开麦迪逊广场花园以及潜在的次轮对阵波士顿是更理想的路径；而热火无论排名如何都必须赢得两场附加赛才能进入季后赛，如果能击败老鹰，他们将获得首场附加赛的主场优势。
布鲁克林篮网对阵多伦多猛龙，下午6点
啊，这是我们看到的第一支“摆烂”球队。如果篮网输球且印第安纳步行者周日获胜，篮网的战绩可能并列联盟倒数第二，但对于战绩最差的三支球队来说，抽中前四顺位或状元签的概率是相同的（分别为52.1%和14%）。与此同时，猛龙如果获胜，且老鹰和魔术输球，就能锁定第5种子。如果猛龙获胜且老鹰获胜，或者猛龙输球且魔术和费城76人均输球，猛龙将保持在第6位。如果猛龙输球且魔术或费城获胜，猛龙可能会掉入附加赛；如果猛龙输球且魔术和76人均获胜，猛龙甚至可能一路跌至第8（并参加附加赛客场比赛）。
奥兰多魔术对阵波士顿凯尔特人，下午6点 (ESPN)
如果猛龙输给篮网，魔术仍有机会通过击败波士顿直接晋级季后赛，而无需参加附加赛。如果魔术和猛龙双双获胜，或者魔术和76人周日双双输球，奥兰多将保持在第7位并在整个附加赛期间拥有主场优势。波士顿经历了一个不可思议的赛季，考虑到杰森·塔图姆 (Jayson Tatum) 因阿基里斯腱手术康复缺阵数月，且球队在去年夏天失去了朱·霍勒迪 (Jrue Holiday)、艾尔·霍福德 (Al Horford) 和克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porziņģis)。凯尔特人在周日已经无欲无求，但他们在81场比赛中证明了自己是联盟最强、阵容最深厚的球队之一，而且他们的拼搏程度始终不亚于任何人。所以，魔术在周日必须全力以赴。
密尔沃基雄鹿对阵费城76人，下午6点
雄鹿自2016年以来首次无缘季后赛。周日可能是道格·里弗斯 (Doc Rivers) 作为密尔沃基主帅的最后一场比赛，也可能是扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 作为雄鹿成员的最后一场比赛。（如果自3月15日以来从未出战的扬尼斯在周日上场，那将是一个巨大的意外）。目前战绩为32胜49负的雄鹿排名联盟倒数第10，将获得一个乐透签，但由于雄鹿与老鹰和新奥尔良鹈鹕涉及选秀权互换，该签位的最终归属仍需由乐透抽签决定。与此同时，76人很可能以东部第8完赛。然而，如果费城获胜且奥兰多输球，76人将升至第7；如果76人获胜且魔术和多伦多双双输球，费城将一路升至第6，并在首轮对阵尼克斯。
夏洛特黄蜂对阵纽约尼克斯，下午6点
黄蜂是本赛季的黑马之一，也是最后三个月表现最好的球队之一，他们已确信会出现在东部附加赛的下半区。如果他们击败尼克斯，他们将在第9 vs 第10的附加赛中主场迎战迈阿密；如果他们输给纽约，且迈阿密在周日获胜，他们将跌至第10。锁定第3种子的尼克斯则已无欲无求。
周日比赛的完整季后赛及附加赛形势。
查看各项结果如何影响排名
pic.twitter.com/6b8Wdv67h3
— NBA Communications (@ NBAPR) 2026年4月11日
底特律活塞对阵印第安纳步行者，下午6点
印第安纳在去年六月距离队史首个NBA总冠军或许只差三节比赛，如果周日输球，他们将锁定联盟倒数第二的战绩。活塞领先凯尔特人4个胜场稳居东部第一，但无法追上雷霆去竞争联盟最佳战绩。本应是MVP和最佳阵容一阵候选人的凯德·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham) 还需要两场比赛才能获得奖项评选资格，但他很可能会在周日的比赛中轮休。
华盛顿奇才对阵克利夫兰骑士，下午6点
奇才已经锁定了联盟最差战绩，骑士也同样没有胜负压力。克利夫兰已确定为东部第4种子，并将关注老鹰和猛龙的比赛结果。
丹佛掘金对阵圣安东尼奥马刺，晚上8:30 (ESPN)
如前所述，丹佛在这场比赛中有很多利益攸关。如果掘金输球且湖人周日获胜，丹佛将滑落至第4。当然，尼库拉·约基奇需要打满20分钟才能获得MVP和最佳阵容一阵的评选资格。马刺稳居第2，他们的球星维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 通过出战周五的比赛，已经达到了奖项评选的门槛。但千万不要在这场比赛中轻视马刺。如果击败丹佛，且湖人周日也获胜，马刺就能在季后赛第二轮避开掘金。对于圣安东尼奥来说，缺少卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Dončić) 和奥斯汀·里夫斯 (Austin Reaves) 的湖人，或者是第6种子的森林狼，可能是次轮更理想的对手。
犹他爵士对阵洛杉矶湖人，晚上8:30
爵士与萨克拉门托并列联盟倒数第四。虽然战绩最差的三支球队选秀概率相同，但第4和第5之间还是有区别的——倒数第四的球队概率略好。与此同时，湖人表示他们不再关心季后赛排名，现在的重点是在伤病困扰下找到季后赛轮换阵容。他们最差会排在第4种子，首轮对阵火箭。如果周日获胜且丹佛输球，湖人将获得第3名并在首轮主场迎战森林狼。
萨克拉门托国王对阵波特兰开拓者，晚上8:30
温馨提示——场上的球员不会“摆烂”。摆烂是管理层的决定，通过安排或不安排某些球员上场来增加输球机会，从而提高选秀顺位。所以当我们说国王最好输掉周日的比赛并寄希望于犹他获胜时，这是指管理层和主教练层面的考虑（尽管这可能是道格·克里斯蒂 (Doug Christie) 作为国王主帅的最后一场比赛）。与此同时，开拓者如果获胜或洛杉矶快船输球，就能锁定第8种子，从而在附加赛中获得两次晋级机会。开拓者在临时主帅蒂亚戈·斯普利特 (Tiago Splitter) 的带领下经历了一个令人印象深刻的赛季，他在赛季开始时接替了因涉嫌赌博案被指控联邦罪行的昌西·比卢普斯 (Chauncey Billups)。
金州勇士对阵洛杉矶快船，晚上8:30
勇士稳居第10，需要赢得两场客场附加赛才能晋级季后赛，周日的结果将影响他们的行程。如果击败快船，勇士将在周二回到直觉穹顶 (Intuit Dome) 参加附加赛揭幕战。如果金州周日输球且开拓者也输球，勇士将在客场挑战第9名波特兰。从快船的角度来看，击败金州且开拓者输球将使洛杉矶升至第8。否则，他们将排名第9，与勇士进行一场赢球或回家的生死战。
芝加哥公牛对阵达拉斯独行侠，晚上8:30
公牛锁定了联盟倒数第九的战绩。达拉斯独行侠和孟菲斯灰熊目前并列联盟倒数第六，倒数第六的球队获得状元签的概率略高于倒数第七。所以，请自行体会其中的深意。
新奥尔良鹈鹕对阵明尼苏达森林狼，晚上8:30
鹈鹕没有理由输球，因为他们的2026年首轮签归亚特兰大老鹰所有。如果新奥尔良输掉这场比赛，且达拉斯或孟菲斯获胜，老鹰在乐透抽签中的顺位将从第8升至第7。森林狼锁定了第6种子，首轮将对阵丹佛或湖人。
孟菲斯灰熊对阵休斯顿火箭，晚上8:30
如前所述，灰熊并列联盟倒数第六，而锁定西部第5的火箭已无欲无求。顺便提一句，这可能是贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant) 在孟菲斯阵容中的最后一场比赛。他自1月21日以来就没上过场，可能会在今年休赛期被交易。
菲尼克斯太阳对阵俄克拉荷马城雷霆，晚上8:30
太阳排名第7，本周将在附加赛中主场迎战波特兰或快船。俄克拉荷马城有望成为NBA历史上第三支连续两年常规赛取得65胜或以上的球队。公牛在1996年和1997年做到了这一点，勇士则在2015年、2016年和2017年达成了此成就。
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：What every NBA team is playing for on the last day of the regular season
What every NBA team is playing for on the last day of the regular season
No playoff or Play-In matchup is set heading into the final day of the NBA regular season, and a bona fide MVP candidate will have to play at least 20 minutes in Game No. 82 to meet eligibility requirements for the award.
And after running headfirst into Rory McIlroy’s historic Masters victory on this day last year, with the last games of the season playing out at the same time as the golf tournament, the NBA’s season-capping Sunday won’t get started until 6 p.m. ET, which means you should be able to watch the awarding of the green jacket and most of the games that matter.
In the East, the top four seeds are set and belong to the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively. The remaining six postseason slots are not yet settled. In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are locked into the first and second seeds, while the Houston Rockets are guaranteed to be fifth, the Minnesota Timberwolves are sixth, the Phoenix Suns are seventh and the Golden State Warriors are 10th.
Additionally, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, who leads the league in rebounds and assists and is having arguably his best statistical season, has appeared in 64 games to date. League rules — which the players’ union wants to change — require most players to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for awards like MVP. The Nuggets can finish third with a win over the Spurs or a Lakers loss to Utah on Sunday, and Jokić, their anchor, was held out of Friday’s game with “right wrist injury management.” Denver coach David Adelman said, “We’re gonna have that conversation” Saturday.
“This rule stares at us right now,” Adelman said. “We’ve got to make a proper decision, and we need to go in there with a real plan of ‘this is what it’s going to be.’ Either he gets those minutes or we say, ‘let’s just move on.'”
To refresh, the Play-In Tournament is for the Nos. 7-10 seeds in both conferences. The No. 7 and No. 8 seeds play each other, with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the seventh seed in its conference. The loser of that game plays the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game, with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the eighth seed.
Here’s what’s at stake Sunday in each of the 15 games on the final day of the NBA regular season. (All times are ET, and the 6 p.m. games are listed first.)
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m.
If the Hawks win, they’ll clinch the No. 5 seed in the East and play the Cavs in a first-round playoff series. The Heat, in the Play-In Tournament for a fourth consecutive year, would be the No. 9 seed and host Charlotte in the No. 9-No. 10 matchup if Miami beats Atlanta and the Knicks beat the Hornets. The worst the Hawks can finish is sixth (with a loss and a Toronto victory), and the worst the Heat can do is 10th, but both teams have reasons to try to win Sunday. In the Hawks’ case, avoiding Madison Square Garden in round one and a potential second-round series against Boston is the preferred path; the Heat, who will have to win two Play-In games to reach the playoffs regardless of seeding, would host the first Play-In game if they can beat Atlanta.
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m.
Ah, our first look at a “tanking” team. The Nets could finish tied for the league’s second-worst record should they lose and the Indiana Pacers win Sunday, but lottery odds to land a top-four pick or the No. 1 pick are the same for the teams with the three worst records (52.1 percent and 14 percent chances, respectively). The Raptors, meanwhile, can secure the No. 5 seed with a win and a loss by the Hawks and Magic. Toronto remains at No. 6 with a win and an Atlanta win, or through a loss and losses by Orlando and the Philadelphia 76ers. Toronto could fall into the Play-In with a loss and wins by Orlando or Philadelphia, or the Raptors could drop all the way to eighth (and a road Play-In game) with a loss and wins by the Magic and 76ers.
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
The Magic can still make the playoffs without having to win a Play-In game by beating Boston, if the Raptors also lose to Brooklyn. Orlando remains seventh and hosting throughout the Play-In, if it wins and the Raptors win, or if both the Magic and Sixers lose on Sunday. Boston has enjoyed an incredible season, given that it missed Jayson Tatum for months recovering from Achilles surgery and parted ways with Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis last summer. The Celtics have nothing to play for on Sunday, but they showed for 81 games that they are one of the league’s best and deepest teams, and they consistently play as hard or harder than anyone. So the Magic need to show up for work Sunday.
Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, 6 p.m.
The Bucks are out of the postseason for the first time since 2016. Sunday could be Doc Rivers’ last game as Milwaukee’s coach and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s last as a member of the Bucks’ organization. (It would be a huge surprise if Giannis, who hasn’t appeared in a game since March 15, takes the court Sunday). Milwaukee, at 32-49, holds the NBA’s 10th-worst record and will have a lottery pick, but where that pick ends up is still to be determined by the lottery because of a pick swap the Bucks are involved in with the Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans. The 76ers, meanwhile, are likely going to finish eighth in the East. However, a win for Philadelphia and a loss for Orlando would move the Sixers to No. 7, and a win for the Sixers and losses by the Magic and Toronto would bump Philly all the way to sixth place and a first-round series against the Knicks.
Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks, 6 p.m.
The Hornets, one of the league’s surprise teams and among the top performers over the final three months, are guaranteed a place in the bottom bracket for the East Play-In Tournament. If they beat the Knicks, they will host Miami in a No. 9 vs. No. 10 Play-In game; if they lose to New York, they’ll fall to 10th if Miami wins on Sunday. The Knicks, locked into the third seed, have nothing to play for.
Complete Playoff & Play-In scenarios for Sunday’s games.
See how each result impacts seeding
— NBA Communications (@ NBAPR) April 11, 2026
Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers, 6 p.m.
Indiana, which was perhaps just three quarters away from its first NBA championship last June, can secure the league’s second-worst record with a loss Sunday. The Pistons, four games clear of the Celtics for first in the East, cannot catch the Thunder for the league’s best overall record. Cade Cunningham, who would be a candidate for MVP and first-team All-NBA, needs two games to qualify for awards and will probably be held out of Sunday’s contest.
Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers, 6 p.m.
The Wizards have already secured the NBA’s worst record, and there is nothing at stake for the Cavs, either. Cleveland is settled as the East’s No. 4 seed and will be watching the outcomes for the Hawks and Raptors.
Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
As previously stated, Denver has a lot riding on this one. Should the Nuggets lose and the Lakers win on Sunday, Denver would slide to No. 4. And of course, Jokić needs to play 20 minutes to be eligible for MVP and first-team All-NBA. The Spurs are secure in the No. 2 slot, and their star, Victor Wembanyama, met the threshold for award eligibility by playing Friday. But don’t sleep on the Spurs in this one. With a win over Denver, they could avoid playing the Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs if the Lakers also win on Sunday. The Lakers, who are missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, or the sixth-seed Timberwolves, are probably more attractive playoff opponents to San Antonio in the second round.
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers, 8:30 p.m.
The Jazz are tied with Sacramento for the league’s fourth-worst record. Although the draft odds are the same for the teams with the three worst records, there is a difference between No. 4 and No. 5 — the odds are slightly better for the fourth-worst team. The Lakers, meanwhile, have said they are no longer concerned with playoff seeding; finding a playoff rotation despite their injuries is now the focus. The worst they can do is the No. 4 seed and a first-round series against Houston. A win Sunday combined with a Denver loss would mean the Lakers finish third and host Minnesota in the first round.
Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 8:30 p.m.
A gentle reminder — players on the court don’t “tank.” Tanking is an organizational decision to play — or not play — certain players to increase a team’s chances of losing and increase its chances in the draft lottery. So when we say the Kings would do well to lose Sunday and hope that Utah wins, that’s at the front-office and head-coach level (though this could be Doug Christie’s last game as the Kings’ coach). The Blazers, meanwhile, can secure the No. 8 seed and two chances to advance from the Play-In Tournament with a win or an LA Clippers loss. Portland has had an impressive season under interim coach Tiago Splitter, who took over at the start of the season for Chauncey Billups, who is charged with federal crimes in a gambling probe.
Golden State Warriors at LA Clippers, 8:30 p.m.
The Warriors, cemented in 10th place and needing to win two road games in the Play-In Tournament to advance to the playoffs, can impact their route with Sunday’s outcome. If they beat the Clippers, the Warriors would return to Intuit Dome on Tuesday for a Play-In opener. If Golden State loses Sunday and the Blazers do, too, then the Warriors would open the Play-In at No. 9 Portland. From the Clippers’ perspective, a win over Golden State combined with a Portland loss would put LA in the eighth seed. Otherwise, it’s the ninth seed and a win-or-go-home matchup with the Warriors.
Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
The Bulls are locked into the NBA’s ninth-worst record. The Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies are currently tied for the sixth-worst record, and the odds of securing the No. 1 pick are slightly better for the sixth-worst team than the seventh-worst. So, read between the lines there.
New Orleans Pelicans at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m.
The Pelicans have no incentive to lose because their 2026 first-round pick goes to the Atlanta Hawks. Should New Orleans lose this game and either Dallas or Memphis win, the Hawks would move up from eighth to seventh in the draft lottery. The Timberwolves are locked into the No. 6 seed and will play either Denver or the Lakers in the first round.
Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m.
The Grizzlies, as mentioned, are tied for the league’s sixth-worst record, while Houston, locked in at No. 5 in the West, has nothing to play for. As an aside, this could be Ja Morant’s final game on Memphis’ roster. He has not played since Jan. 21 and could be traded this offseason.
Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:30 p.m.
The Suns are seventh and will host either Portland or the Clippers in a Play-In game this week. Oklahoma City can become just the third franchise in NBA history to win 65 or more regular-season games in consecutive years. The Bulls did it in 1996 and 1997, and the Warriors did it in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
By Joe Vardon, via The Athletic