Final Day NBA Season: Who's In, Who's Out, and Who's Playing for Pride

The final day of the NBA season is here, and the Western Conference is still up in the air. Eight teams are in the mix for the last four playoff spots. The Eastern Conference, however, is all set. No games in the East matter for playoff positioning. The real action starts at 3:30 p. m. ET, with eight games that will decide the fate of the Western Conference teams. The Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers face off in a crucial matchup. The winner secures a top-six seed in the playoffs. The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves also have a shot at locking up their playoff spots with victories. The Memphis Grizzlies seem destined for the No. 8 seed, which means they have to win one Play-In game to advance. The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks are battling for the ninth and 10th spots, which means they need to win two Play-In games to make the playoffs. The Nuggets have a chance to secure the No. 4 seed with a win against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have already clinched the No. 2 seed, so they have nothing to play for. The Nuggets, however, are on a roll after firing their coach and general manager. A loss for the Nuggets could send them to the Play-In Tournament, depending on other results. The Clippers and Warriors have a history, with their coaches having faced off in the Finals. The Clippers have been boosted by James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, while the Warriors struggled until trading for Jimmy Butler. A win for the Clippers secures them the fourth or fifth seed, depending on other results. The Warriors, on the other hand, could end up sixth with a win, setting up an intriguing first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Timberwolves are at home against the Utah Jazz, who have no incentive to win. The Jazz are tied for the worst record in the NBA, which means they have the best odds for the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Timberwolves, however, have a chance to finish as high as fourth with a win and losses by the Clippers and Nuggets. Anthony Edwards, a key player for the Timberwolves, might miss the game due to a technical foul. The Mavericks and Grizzlies face off in a game that might not mean much for either team. Both have endured significant changes and injuries. The Grizzlies, however, have more to gain with a win, as it could secure them home-court advantage in the Play-In Tournament. The Phoenix Suns, already eliminated from playoff contention, face the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are fighting for the ninth seed and a home game in the Play-In Tournament. The Suns, however, might not have much motivation to play hard. In the East, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers have secured the top seeds. The Detroit Pistons have made a remarkable turnaround, finishing with the sixth seed. The Indiana Pacers will host the Milwaukee Bucks in the 4-5 matchup, while the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat will face off in the Play-In Tournament.

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