The Hawks failed to clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday, losing 122-116 in Cleveland despite Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a>‘s 25 points and Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>‘s 24 off the bench. Both Dyson Daniels<\/a> and Jalen Johnson<\/a> fouled out late in the fourth quarter, which effectively closed the door on any comeback. Atlanta must now win at least one of their final two games to secure a guaranteed playoff spot. Those two games are: at home against Cleveland on Friday, a direct rematch, and then a road trip to Miami on Sunday, where the Heat will be fighting equally hard for their own seeding.<\/p>\n The home game against the Cavs is winnable, but the game in Miami is a genuine battle, since the Heat are also fighting for playoff positioning. A 1-1 finish is the most likely outcome for Atlanta, which should be enough to clinch fifth.<\/p>\n Toronto’s 121-95 demolition of Miami on Tuesday was the biggest result of the week. Scottie Barnes<\/a> delivered 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and the Raptors now control the last direct playoff spot heading into the final three games. Crucially, the Raptors also got Immanuel Quickley<\/a> back. After missing eight games with plantar fasciitis, Quickley returned on Tuesday and contributed three points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in 18 minutes. His passing was particularly sharp in the second quarter, and his return strengthens Toronto’s playmaking depth at exactly the right time.<\/p>\n Toronto closes with Miami on Thursday, New York on Friday, and Brooklyn (eliminated) on Sunday. The Miami and Brooklyn games are manageable. The Knicks, however, are a different proposition, New York has something to play for in terms of seeding and will not roll over. Expect Toronto to go 2-1 and hold sixth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Orlando beat a heavily shorthanded Minnesota squad 132-120 on Wednesday. Paolo Banchero<\/a> led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds, Desmond Bane<\/a> added 18 points and six assists, and Goga Bitadze<\/a> contributed 14 points and 15 rebounds off the bench. Crucially, Minnesota rested Anthony Edwards<\/a>, Julius Randle,<\/a> Rudy Gobert<\/a>, Ayo Dosunmu<\/a> and Mike Conley<\/a> with their playoff spot already clinched. The win extended the Magic’s winning streak to four games and moved them to seventh.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the tiebreaker picture here is critical, and Charlotte leads the season series against Orlando 3-1. That means if the Hornets and Magic finish level on wins, Charlotte claims the higher seed. Orlando cannot simply match Charlotte’s record; they must finish ahead of them outright.<\/p>\n Head coach Jamahl Mosley kept it simple after the win over the East’s number one seed, the Detroit Pistons. “We said we wanted to be playing our best basketball at this time,” he said.<\/a> “Winning four of the last six, that says something to what we are doing. It may not always be pretty in every game, but we have to find ways to win.”<\/p>\n Orlando’s two remaining games, at Chicago (eliminated) on Friday and at Boston on Sunday, look winnable on paper, particularly if the Celtics rest their starters ahead of the playoffs. Even so, the Magic need wins regardless of what the Hornets do, because the tiebreaker works against them in this matchup.<\/p>\n The 76ers carry the most star power in this conversation. Tyrese Maxey<\/a> averages 28.4 points per game. Joel Embiid<\/a> usually keeps the frontcourt steady whenever he is available to play. Paul George<\/a> went for a season-high 39 points against Washington last week and looks refreshed. Despite losing in San Antonio on Monday, head coach Nick Nurse remains confident in his group’s direction.<\/p>\n “I think we just started playing a little smarter offensively,” Nurse said<\/a> after the Minnesota win. “We saw some things we could get to, and we did a good job of executing them, freeing guys up. … We did an excellent job of doing almost everything we wanted to in the second half offensively.”<\/p>\n Their closing schedule — at Houston Thursday, at eliminated Indiana Friday, and home against eliminated Milwaukee Sunday — is the most favorable of any team in this race. Importantly, Philadelphia leads the season series against Charlotte 2-1 and therefore owns the tiebreaker. That matters because a Hornets-Sixers tie in wins still leaves Charlotte below Philadelphia in the standings. Unlike with Orlando, where Charlotte holds the edge, the Hornets need to finish ahead of the Sixers in wins to claim a higher seed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is what actually matters for Hornets fans going into this final weekend. Because Charlotte leads the season series 3-1 against Orlando and trails Philadelphia 2-1, the Hornets occupy a nuanced position in the standings. If Charlotte wins both remaining games and Orlando loses one, the Hornets can climb to seventh. If Charlotte wins both and Philadelphia loses two of three, seventh becomes even more realistic. That is not a fantasy scenario; it requires things to go right.<\/p>\n After Tuesday’s road loss to Boston, head coach Charles Lee wasted no time looking ahead. “Our group is gonna learn from this one,” Lee said<\/a>. “Looking forward to getting back home, having a great practice and getting ourselves ready to play a really tough, obviously the number one seed, Detroit Pistons at home.”<\/p>\n The Detroit game on Friday is Charlotte’s most critical remaining fixture. The Pistons have already locked up the East’s top seed and may rest their starters to stay fresh for the playoffs. If head coach J.B. Bickerstaff holds his core back, Spectrum Center’s crowd, LaMelo Ball<\/a>‘s current form, Brandon Miller<\/a>‘s consistency and Kon Knueppel<\/a>‘s three-point shooting<\/a> make this a genuinely winnable game. The Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden present a much tougher challenge, but New York may also be managing minutes with seeding relatively settled.<\/p>\n Still, the bigger picture here cannot be ignored. Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said it best<\/a> before his team’s blowout loss to Charlotte: “I don’t know what their record is since, let’s say December 15th or something like that, but it’s probably as good as anybody in the league. … Charles is doing a great job with them. They’re dynamic, highly skilled. They have toughness. Their defense has improved. They are a team on the come for sure.”<\/p>\n From 19-63 to the play-in in one season. That story does not need a sixth seed to be worth telling.<\/p>\n Miami’s fate is sealed after Tuesday’s loss to Toronto. The Heat enter the play-in<\/a> for the fourth straight season. However, the difference between ninth and tenth still matters enormously: ninth gives two chances to advance, while tenth delivers immediate elimination if you lose.<\/p>\n Nikola Jovic<\/a> (ankle) remains out, while Terry Rozier<\/a> is away from the team. Even so, Bam Adebayo<\/a> (20.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG) and Norman Powell<\/a> (22.1 PPG) give Miami genuine weapons. Head coach Erik Spoelstra stated the situation plainly<\/a>: “Our backs are against the wall. Everybody knows what the deal is. We need everybody in that locker room, but we need to really lean on our main guys right now.”<\/p>\nAtlanta Hawks (45-35): One Win Away, Two Tough Tests Ahead<\/h3>\n
Toronto Raptors (44-35): Sixth Seed in Hand, Healthier Than They Were<\/h3>\n
Orlando Magic (44-36): Four Straight Wins, But Charlotte Has the Tiebreaker<\/h3>\n
![\"Jan](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/03\/USATSI_28064398_168402037_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
Philadelphia 76ers (43-36): Soft Schedule, Tiebreaker Advantage<\/h3>\n
Charlotte Hornets (43-37): Ninth Is Not the Ceiling, Seventh Is Possible<\/h3>\n
![\"Feb](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/02\/USATSI_28348807_168402037_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
Miami Heat (41-38): Confirmed Play-In, Fighting for Ninth<\/h3>\n