MIAMI (AP) The end has arrived.
Actually, for Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas and Charlotte, the end came in their season finales Tuesday. There are nine teams who know today is the last day of their season. Another 15 teams have already clinched playoff berths.
Then theres Minnesota and Denver.
Game 82 for both teams will have a Game 7 feel, which is a fitting way to transition from the regular season to the postseason. Nuggets at Timberwolves, winner to the playoffs, loser to the offseason. Its the first time since 1997 and only the third time since the NBA went to this postseason format in 1983 that two teams will play on the seasons final day in such a situation.
Its bigger than all of us, Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns said.
Minnesota is trying to get into the playoffs for the first time since 2004 the longest current drought in the NBA. Denver winner of six straight to give itself this chance is trying to get to the postseason for the first time since 2013.
So theres only one spot left in the 16-team tournament that will decide whose fingerprints get to put the smudge of a championship celebration on the Larry OBrien Trophy in June.
Much like the race between Minnesota and Denver, the entire tournament bracket itself is going down to the wire. There will be eight first-round matchups, and every single one of those pairings will be decided today. So, too, will 11 of the 16 seeds. Portland and Utah will play for the No. 3 seed in the West, in one of the few cut-and-dry matchups.
The only order of business that was cleared up Tuesday was the No. 2 overall seed, with Toronto now assured of finishing with the NBAs second-best record.
A FIRST FOR LEBRON
Its really, really, really hard to find something that LeBron James hasnt done in his career. But if he appears for Cleveland against New York tonight, it will mark the first time in James 15 seasons that he plays in all 82 regular-season games. He will lead the NBA in minutes played, field goals made and total points this season at 33 years old.
SCORING TITLE
Houstons James Harden has the scoring crown wrapped up. Hell be the first player to win back-to-back scoring titles since his former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant won three straight from 2009-10 through 2011-12.
