NBA Season's Final Day will have 2024 Draft Implications

There’s just one more day remaining in the 2023-24 NBA regular season, but the standings are far from concrete.

There’s just one more day remaining on the 2023-24 NBA regular season, with all 30 teams dueling it out Sunday.

Year after the year, postseason seeding comes down to the final few days of the season, but this year has been one for the books, with dozens of NBA teams grappling for higher seeds, home court advantage and more in their final games. 

Earlier in the week it looked like the Pistons were coasting to the best odds at another No. 1 pick, but they’re not out of the woods yet, with just a one-game lead on the Wizards at No. 2. Those two teams will hold the top-two odds, but the order is still uncertain.

Currently at No. 3 are the Hornets, who have just a one-game lead on both the Trail Blazers and Spurs at 21-60. San Antonio mixed up the top of the order by beating the Nuggets in thrilling fashion Friday night, but moved themselves from the third-best odds to fifth.

After that, things don’t get crazy until the Play-In group. The two teams ousted from there will own the 13th and 14th odds at the draft lottery, but that group if far from set currently.

Three teams — the Heat, Warriors and Kings — share a 45-36 record, and are all in Play-In range in certain scenarios. Four teams — the Lakers, Magic, Pacers and Sixers — all share a 46-35 record and are in a similar boat.

There’s simply too many combinations of Play-In games in both the East and West to rifle through, but nearly all of those teams are in danger of owning a lottery pick rather than a shot at the title.

Regardless of how it goes down on Sunday, the upcoming NBA Playoffs are assuredly going to be the best and most open we’ve seen in some time. 

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