The Oklahoma City Thunder are first in the West, eleven years after their last time. The Phoenix Suns go straight into the playoffs. In the East, the New York Knicks are second behind the dominating Boston, surpassing Danilo Gallinari's Milwaukee Bucks on the last day. The play-in's first round will be an electrifying Philadelphia against Miami, with the winner facing the New Yorkers in the main bracket. The NBA regular season closes with these (and other) verdicts. The Los Angeles Lakers conquer New Orleans defeating the Pelicans, whom they will meet again in a few days in the first round of the play-ins. A triple-double by an unleashed LeBron James (28 points, 11 rebounds, and 17 assists) with 30 points and 11 rebounds by Anthony Davis.
Regular Season Statistics
For the "king", it's the 21st consecutive season ended with 25+ points scored and 15+ rebounds taken in the regular season. As for the statistical leaders of 2023/24, Luka Doncic is the top scorer with an average of 33.9 points (his first scoring title in his career), Domantas Sabonis is the best rebounder with 13.7 (he also has 61 consecutive double-doubles, a record in the modern era and 77 in 82 games played), Tyrese Haliburton is the best assist man with 10.9 (and his Indiana Pacers are the best team in terms of assists, 30.6 per game, and the best offense in the League with 123.9 points scored). Steph Curry is the player who scored the most three-pointers in the season, 357, and it's the eighth time he has scored the most threes in the NBA. However, the best three-point shooting percentage goes to Grayson Allen of the Phoenix Suns with 46.1 percent.
A separate chapter deserves Victor Wembanyama. The San Antonio rookie finished with an average of 3.6 blocks, his first title as the NBA's best blocker and the first rookie to win the blockers ranking in history. It's the highest blocks average in the US league since 2015-16 (Hassan Whiteside with 3.68 in Miami) and he is the sixth rookie ever to end the season with more than 250 blocks (254). He finished his first season with 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals.
Matchups and Dates
The play-ins kick off on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. The playoffs start on April 20, the Conference semifinals are scheduled for May 6-7, and the finals no earlier than May 21. Game 1 of the "Finals" will be on June 6. Once the championship is over, Team USA will focus on the Olympics with the super team that will present itself in Paris. Two friendlies in London on July 21 and 23 will serve as a rich appetizer, then it will be showtime in search of Olympic gold to forget the disappointments of the last two World Cup editions.
- WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS:
(1) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - Winner of the second Play-In team (8) (4) LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS - DALLAS MAVERICKS (5) (3) MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES - PHOENIX SUNS (6) (2) DENVER NUGGETS - Winner of the first Play-In team (7)
- WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN:
(7) NEW ORLEANS PELICANS - LOS ANGELES LAKERS (8) Winner in seventh position, loser will face the winner of the other Play-In for the eighth spot. (9) SACRAMENTO KINGS - GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (10) Winner will face the loser of the other Play-In for the eighth spot. Loser out.
- EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS:
(1) BOSTON CELTICS - Winner of the second Play-In team (8) (4) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - ORLANDO MAGIC (5) (3) MILWAUKEE BUCKS - INDIANA PACERS (6) (2) NEW YORK KNICKS - Winner of the first Play-In team (7)
- EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN:
(7) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - MIAMI HEAT (8) Winner in seventh position, loser will face the winner of the other Play-In for the eighth spot. (9) CHICAGO BULLS - ATLANTA HAWKS (10) Winner will face the loser of the other Play-In for the eighth spot. Loser out.
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