The 2025-26 NBA regular season concluded last night with several high stakes matches determining the final playoff and play in brackets. Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a critical victory over the San Antonio Spurs, securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Jokic finished the season by appearing in his 65th game, officially meeting the league's new criteria for award eligibility, which keeps him at the forefront of the MVP conversation. 

In the battle for play in positioning, the Los Angeles Clippers clinched the No. 9 seed after a dominant win over the Golden State Warriors, setting up a high profile rematch in the play in tournament. LeBron James also made headlines, scoring 18 points in the first half to lead the Lakers to a comfortable win over the Utah Jazz, ensuring they enter the post-season with significant momentum. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers secured the No. 8 seed by defeating the Sacramento Kings in a wire to wire thriller. 

With the regular season now over, the league turns its attention to the Play In Tournament starting later this week. The bracket is officially set, with several star studded matchups guaranteed in both conferences. Analysts are highlighting the competitive depth of this year's field, noting that even lower-seeded teams like the Lakers and Clippers pose significant threats to the top tier contenders like the Nuggets and Celtics.