The NBA’s 80th regular season reached a dramatic conclusion on Sunday, April 12, 2026, as a final day of high-stakes action solidified the postseason bracket and shifted the seeding for several contenders.
Nuggets Surge into Third Seed
The Denver Nuggets continued their dominant form, securing the Western Conference’s third seed with a 128-118 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The win marked the 12th consecutive victory for Denver. Nikola Jokić, who led the league with 34 triple-doubles this season, played just over 18 minutes—meeting the minimum requirement to remain eligible for end-of-season awards, including MVP. Jokić contributed 23 points in the first half, helping the Nuggets build a 70-56 halftime lead. The Spurs were without MVP contender Victor Wembanyama, who sat out due to a rib injury.
Denver is now set to face the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.
Raptors Clinch Playoff Return
In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors made a definitive statement by crushing the Brooklyn Nets 136-101. The victory allowed Toronto to leapfrog the Atlanta Hawks and claim the fifth seed, marking their first return to the playoffs since 2022. All-Star Scottie Barnes led the charge with a triple-double, recording 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. He was supported by RJ Barrett, who scored 26 points, and Brandon Ingram, who added 25.
“You gotta love this (stuff), you should have fun,” Barnes said following the dominant performance.
Conference Standings and First-Round Matchups
The final day of action settled the lines for the postseason. In the West, the NBA final-day roundup confirms that Oklahoma City and San Antonio hold the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively. The Los Angeles Lakers secured the fourth seed after a 131-107 win, setting up a first-round clash with the Houston Rockets. This matchup will feature LeBron James against former rival Kevin Durant, though the Lakers may be without leading scorer Luka Doncic, who is currently recovering from a hamstring strain.
In the East, Detroit and Boston have claimed the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. While the Raptors secured fifth, other winners on the final day included the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, and Miami Heat. The top seeds in both conferences must now wait for the results of the Play-In tournament to determine their first-round opponents.
Lakers coach JJ Redick expressed confidence heading into the postseason, stating, “We’re going to prepare and we’re going to fight and we’re going to go try and win the series.”
