The NBA regular season has wrapped, and the playoff picture is crystal clear. Let’s dive into the final standings, seedings, and the upcoming high-stakes matchups.

THREE POINTER:

• Oklahoma City Thunder secures #1 spot in the West.
• Phoenix Suns leap into #6, dodging the play-in round.
• Eastern Conference top seeds set; play-in battles await.

Western Conference: Thunder Roars to the Front

In a dramatic final day, the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the Western Conference’s top seed, leaving the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves in their wake. This victory guarantees them home-court advantage throughout the West playoffs, but the road ahead is anything but easy.

The Phoenix Suns pulled off a crucial win against the Timberwolves, which, coupled with the New Orleans Pelicans’ loss to the Lakers, catapulted them into the sixth seed. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker can breathe a sigh of relief as they sidestep the play-in and prepare to face Minnesota in a first-round series that’s already buzzing with anticipation.

Lakers and Pelicans: A Tuesday Tussle

The Lakers’ triumph over the Pelicans sets up a tantalizing rematch on Tuesday. With both teams eyeing a spot in the playoffs proper, expect a clash filled with intensity and desperation.

The Boston Celtics finished strong, claiming the Eastern throne with a 64-18 record. They now await the victor of the play-in finale to discover their first-round adversary.

Thanks to Milwaukee’s stumble, the New York Knicks jumped into the number two spot, and they’re now poised to take on the winner of the Philadelphia-Miami play-in game. The Bucks, meanwhile, face a resilient Indiana team that recently demolished the Hawks with a staggering 157 points.

The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic sidestepped the play-in round with key wins, while the Sixers and Heat are locked into a do-or-die scenario. The play-in games are set, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

What’s Next?

As the dust settles, the matchups are set:

• The Thunder await the victor of the play-in scrum.
• The Celtics gear up to face the last team standing from the East play-in.
• The Suns and Wolves prepare for a rematch with higher stakes.

The board is set, and the pieces are moving. Who will rise? Who will fall? The playoff battles begin, and every game is a chance for glory or heartbreak.

Read more about the NBA Playoffs HERE

Stay tuned to The Daily Baller for more updates, analysis, and all things hoops as the playoff drama unfolds.