Lots to decide on final day
The end has arrived. Actually, for Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas and Charlotte, the end came in their season finales Tuesday. There are nine teams who know Wednesday is the last day of their season. Another 15 teams have clinched playoff berths.
Then there are Minnesota and Denver.
Game 82 for both teams will have a Game 7 feel, which is a fitting way to transition from the regular season to the postseason. Nuggets at Timberwolves, winner to the playoffs, loser to the offseason. It’s the first time since 1997 — and only the third time since the NBA went to this postseason format in 1983 — that two teams will play on the season’s final day in such a situation.
“It’s bigger than all of us,” Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns said.
Minnesota is trying to get into the playoffs for the first time since 2004 — the longest current drought in the NBA. Denver — winner of six straight to give itself this chance — is trying to get to the postseason for the first time since 2013.
Much like the race between Minnesota and Denver, the entire tournament bracket itself is going down to the wire. There will be eight first-round matchups, and every single one of those pairings will be decided Wednesday. So, too, will 11 of the 16 seeds. Utah and Portland will play for the No. 3 seed in the West, in one of the few cut-and-dry matchups.
Other things to note going into the last day of the regular season:
If LeBron James appears for Cleveland against New York, it will mark the first time in James’ 15 seasons that he plays in all 82 regular-season games.
Philadelphia, which beat host Atlanta on Tuesday to set a franchise record with its 15th consecutive victory, would be the No. 3 seed in the East if it beats Milwaukee. It also would top the record for longest winning streak to end any NBA season.
Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook needs 16 rebounds against Memphis to average a triple-double for the second consecutive year.
Despite passing 5,000 career assists as host Washington overcame 21 first-quarter points from Boston’s Jaylen Brown to top Boston 113-101 on Tuesday, John Wall, returning from knee surgery, “most likely” won’t play in the Wizards finale at Orlando, according to head coach Scott Brooks. The game will help determine whether the Wizards, currently No. 8, will move up to the sixth or seventh seeds.
In other Tuesday action, 32-year-old rookie Andre Ingram went 6-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in his debut for the Lakers after 10 years in what’s now called the G League. The G League career leader in threes finished with 19 points in a 105-99 home loss to Houston. He hit a three on his first NBA shot and had three blocked shots.