NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: April 9, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

NBA Regular Season Finish & Standings

The Oklahoma City Thunder secured the NBA's top regular-season record following a decisive victory over the Clippers Wednesday night, placing them in rarefied air historically among top seeds. Meanwhile, league scrutiny is reportedly focused on Sacramento following Tuesday’s close loss to Golden State, where team sources clarified that a late-game coaching error by Doug Christie, not intentional tanking, caused the questionable defensive sequence. These late-season results arrive as analysts debate the league’s overarching tactical trends, particularly how an increased focus on faster offensive tempos might actually be detrimentally affecting outcomes for both elite and struggling franchises attempting to emulate that pace.

Eastern Conference Powerhouse & Player Returns

The Boston Celtics clinched their status as Eastern Conference favorites, driven by a leadership maturation from star Jaylen Brown, who focused on leading rather than singular heroic performances throughout the campaign. Across the conference, the Detroit Pistons delivered a surprising rout of the Bucks Wednesday, highlighted by Cade Cunningham’s successful return from a collapsed lung, where he immediately posted a 13-point, 10-assist double-double in the victory.