The NBA playoffs are officially set in stone after final day drama led to a shake-up in who will play who in the battle for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Going into the final day, the 20 postseason teams were known but almost every seed was still up for grabs.
Here’s how the Eastern and Western Conference playoff brackets look after the results from the final day!
Watch NBA Regular Season games plus the Play-Offs LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Final day results
Wizards 122-132 Celtics
Hornets 120-110 Cavaliers
Hawks 115-157 Pacers
Raptors 103-118 Heat
Bulls 119-120 Knicks
Bucks 88-113 Magic
Nets 86-107 76ers
SEEDS
1. Celtics (64-18)
2. Knicks (50-32)
3. Bucks (49-33)
4. Cavaliers (48-34)
5. Magic (47-35)
6. Pacers (47-35)
7. 76ers (47-35)
8. Heat (46-36)
9. Bulls (39-43)
10. Hawks (36-46)
The important races… and how they played out
No.2 seed, and avoiding the Celtics
Milwaukee coughed up its lead for the No.2 spot but thankfully avoided falling all the way into fourth, where they would’ve been in line for a horror semi finals clash with Boston.
The Bucks were unable to hold on to the No.2 seed after a loss to the Magic, as the Knicks’ overtime win over Chicago catapulted them into second.
The reward though is a potential first-round match-up with reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Thankfully for Milwaukee, Cleveland could not beat the Hornets meaning the Bucks would not fall into fourth place.
The absurd No.5 and No.6 fight
Going into the final day, the prospect of things getting really crazy loomed if you look at the four teams split by just one win in the middle of the pack – Orlando (vs Milwaukee), Indiana (vs Atlanta), Philadelphia (vs Brooklyn) or Miami (vs Toronto).
Ultimately it was the Magic who sealed fifth spot thanks to a victory over the Bucks while the Pacers secured sixth thanks to a monster 42-point win against the Hawks.
Those two results condemned the Sixers to a spot in the play-in tournament despite a win over the Nets.
The Heat needed the Magic, Pacers and Philly to all lose if they were to somehow surge into fifth, but that never eventuated as they ended the regular season in eigth.
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF BRACKET
Play-in tournament
No. 8 Heat at No. 7 76ers (April 17)
No. 10 Hawks at No. 9 Bulls (April 18)
Winner 9/10 at loser 7/8 (April 20)
First round
No. 1 Celtics vs. No. 8 seed (76ers/Heat/Bulls/Hawks)
No. 2 Knicks vs. No. 7 seed (76ers/Heat)
No. 3 Bucks vs. No. 6 Pacers
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Magic
NBA Wrap: Jokic heroics down Minnesota | 01:09
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Final day results
Nuggets 126-111 Grizzlies
Suns 125-106 Timberwolves
Lakers 124-108 Pelicans
Mavericks 86-135 Thunder
Pistons 95-123 Spurs
Jazz 116-123 Warriors
Rockets 116-105 Clippers
Trail Blazers 82-121 Kings
Standings
1. Thunder (57-25)
2. Nuggets (57-25)
3. Timberwolves (56-26)
4. Clippers (51-31)
5. Mavericks (50-32)
6. Suns (50-32)
7. Pelicans (48-34)
8. Lakers (47-35)
9. Kings (46-36)
10. Warriors (46-36)
The important races… and how they played out
No.1 seed
The Thunder, Timberwolves and Nuggets were all tied at 56-25 – the first time in NBA history three teams are tied for the No.1 seed heading into the final day.
All Oklahoma City had to do was beat the Mavericks to lock in the No.1 seed and they obliged with a 49-point thrashing as Dallas rested its stars.
With it, the Thunder became the youngest team in NBA history to secure top spot in the Conference, although it means OKC could face a tough challenge in the first round of the playoffs.
Should the Pelicans defeat the Lakers and L.A. win against either Sacramento or Golden State, the Thunder would take on LeBron James and co., who have a significant size advantage.
Elsewhere, Denver sealed the No.2 seed with a win over the Grizzlies as they leapfrogged the Timberwolves who will go into the playoffs as the No.3 seed after defeat to the Suns.
No.6 seed
The race for the last non-play-in spot was between New Orleans and Phoenix, with the Suns needing a win over Minnesota plus a Pelicans loss to the Lakers to flip the order.
Perhaps the Suns’ stars might need to send some presents over to the Lakers as Los Angeles’ win over the Pelicans coupled with Phoenix’s win over the Timberwolves ensured the standings going into the final day would be flipped.
The Suns can now kick back and enjoy the play-in tournament from the comfort of their own homes, but New Orleans will have to do things the hard way.
The play-in
The Lakers needed a win over New Orleans to avoid dropping all the way to 10th, and that’s exactly what transpired as they sealed the No.8 seed.
The Kings needed to beat the Trail Blazers as well as a loss from Los Angeles if they were to avoid the 9-10 game, but the Lakers’ win meant they could not move up into the No.8 seed.
The Warriors needed a lot to go in their favour if they were to steer clear of the 9-10 game too and despite a final day win over the Jazz, they will go into the play-in tournament as the No.10 seed.
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF BRACKET
Play-in tournament
No. 8 Lakers at No. 7 Pelicans (April 16)
No. 10 Warriors at No. 9 Kings (April 17)
Winner 9/10 at loser 7/8 (April 19)
First round
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 seed (Pelicans/Lakers/Kings/Warriors)
No. 2 Nuggets vs. No. 7 seed (Pelicans/Lakers)
No. 3 Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Suns
No. 4 Clippers vs. No. 5 Mavericks