The 2025-26 NBA regular season has concluded, setting the stage for the Play-In Tournament beginning Tuesday and the playoffs on Saturday. Here's a breakdown of the winners and losers from the final day.

Winners:

• Houston Rockets: Once seen as vulnerable, the Rockets now head into the playoffs on a hot streak, winning nine of their last ten games. They face a banged-up Los Angeles Lakers team missing key players like Austin Reaves and likely Luka Dončić. This matchup is a significant advantage for Houston, who avoided a first-round clash with the Denver Nuggets.

• Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs benefit from a favorable draw, facing the Toronto Raptors, the weakest playoff team in the East. They also avoided the Boston Celtics, potentially allowing them a smoother path to the conference finals.

• Portland Trail Blazers: Securing the No. 8 seed with a win over the Sacramento Kings, the Blazers now have two chances to win one game in the Play-In Tournament instead of needing two straight wins.

• Milwaukee Bucks: With Doc Rivers reportedly out as head coach, this change may help retain star Giannis Antetokounmpo and signals a shift towards improvement.

Losers:

• New York Knicks: Set to face the Atlanta Hawks instead of the Raptors, the Knicks encounter a team that has been performing well, complicating their playoff journey despite their favorable season.

• San Antonio Spurs: By resting Victor Wembanyama in their loss to the Nuggets, the Spurs missed an opportunity to alter their playoff positioning, now facing a tougher road ahead.

• Orlando Magic: A loss to the Boston Celtics ended their hopes for a guaranteed playoff berth, dropping them to the No. 8 seed and a challenging matchup against the 76ers.

As the playoffs approach, these outcomes set the tone for what promises to be an exciting postseason.