The NBA regular season is over, and the Suns seized the last chance to beat the returning Timberwolves of Towns 125-106, after which the two teams finished third and sixth respectively, and will play their first game at the Timberwolves' home court on April 21. Beal scored 36 points in this game, Booker scored 23 points, and Edwards and Towns combined for 23 points, and the Timberwolves' offensive level will be very difficult to meet the Suns in the playoffs. The Thunder and Nuggets won respectively to lock up No. 1 and No. 2 in the West, and will face the play-in No. 8 and No. 7 playoffs, with the Nuggets' first game on April 21. The Clippers and Mavericks lost the final game of the main game, and the two teams met in the first round of the playoffs with the same rankings.
The Pelicans welcomed Ingram's return, but the team should be the worst pseudo-powerhouse in the West this season, losing 108-124 against the Lakers, sending the Suns to sixth place in the final minute and falling into the play-in tournament. The Pelicans trailed 29-40 in the second quarter and almost lost the suspense of the game in the first half. Thick eyebrows had 30 points and 11 rebounds, while James had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 17 assists, and the two became the key to victory. For the Pelicans, McCollum scored 25 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists on 4-of-9 three-pointers, Zion only got 12 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists on 4-of-13 shooting, and Ingram scored 13 points on his comeback.
The Pelicans dropped to seventh in the final minute, while the Lakers won to become eighth, and the two teams will face the first game of the play-in tournament at 7:30 on April 17 at the Pelicans' home court, with the winner becoming seventh in the West to challenge the Nuggets, and the loser and the winner of the Kings/Warriors fighting for eighth place to challenge the Thunder. The Lakers have an absolute advantage 3-1 in the regular season, and it is difficult for the Pelicans to beat the Lakers at their current offensive and defensive level. The Pelicans had previously won the Warriors, destroying the opponent 45-22 in the second quarter, and the Warriors did not have Kuminga in that game, and the Pelicans did not have Ingram. If the Warriors win to challenge the Pelicans, it will be very difficult to win on the inside.
The Kings defeated the Trail Blazers 121-82 in the final game to move ahead of the Warriors by head-to-head advantage. The Warriors rested Curry and Green in the last game, and finally won the Jazz, the main rotation rest, 123-116, Kuminga returned to 0 of 4 and only got 0 points, 0 rebounds and 7 assists, and Klay scored 25 points on 6 of 12 three-pointers. The Kings are currently missing both Huerter and Monk due to injury, and the Warriors' current court dominance is expected to struggle to break through the play-in tournament. The two teams will play a play-in game at the Kings' home court at 10:00 on April 17, with the winner facing the Pelicans/Lakers loser for eighth place, and the loser going straight home. And no matter who becomes eighth, the Thunder will be the easiest opponent to beat, and they are expected to achieve the Black Eight miracle this season.