The NBA play-in tournament races -- more importantly, the races to stay out of the play-in -- sure make the regular season's final week compelling.
The Miami Heat took a huge step in securing their top-6 seed -- and avoiding a spot among Nos. 7 to 10 -- by defeating the seventh-seeded Boston Celtics on Sunday. The teams will meet again Tuesday night.
The defending champs, however, find themselves in the thick of the battle. Despite Sunday's double-digit win over the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers remain one game behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the sixth seed with four games remaining.
Let's get our final regular-season look at where all 30 teams stand and take stock of the seeding and lottery races, players and storylines we're watching the closest ahead of the 2021 postseason.
Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Royce Young and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.
Previous rankings: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20
1. Utah Jazz
2020-21 record: 50-18
Previous ranking: 2
The silver lining to the extended injury absences of All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley has been Bojan Bogdanovic responding to the increased offensive responsibilities by getting into by far his best groove of the season. Bogdanovic has averaged 28.1 points on .576/.479/.905 shooting splits over the past seven games, highlighted by his career-high 48 points in Friday's win over the Nuggets. Utah has gone 6-1 during that stretch to keep the NBA's best record. -- MacMahon
This week: @GSW, POR, @OKC, @SAC
2. Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 record: 47-21
Previous ranking: 3
The Sixers have all but clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference, giving them an easier path to the NBA Finals -- by only having to beat either the Bucks or the Nets to get there -- and an opportunity to rest players over these final few games. For a team that's been dealing with some nagging injuries to all of its stars of late, that extra downtime could make a big difference. -- Bontemps
This week: @IND, @MIA, ORL, ORL
3. Phoenix Suns
2020-21 record: 48-20
Previous ranking: 1
As Phoenix maintains its push for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, Chris Paul continues to do Point God-like things. Twice in the past week, Paul had games with at least 10 assists and zero turnovers: On Tuesday, he had 16 assists and zero turnovers against Cleveland; and he registered 11 assists and no turnovers against the Knicks three days later. It was the 44th and 45th time in Paul's career he has had a game with 10-plus assists and zero turnovers. That's the second-most such games since 1977-78, when turnovers became an official stat, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The only player with more such games in that stretch? Muggsy Bogues with 46. -- Lopez
This week: @GSW, POR, @SAS, @SAS
4. Brooklyn Nets
2020-21 record: 44-24
Previous ranking: 4
James Harden hasn't played since April 5 because of a hamstring injury, but the star remains "very confident" he'll return before the postseason. Harden said the plan is to play "a couple games" prior to the opening round, which would slot his return sometime this week, because the Nets only have four games left. -- Young
This week: @CHI, SAS, CHI, CLE
5. Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 record: 43-24
Previous ranking: 6
Five straight wins have Milwaukee in position to claim the second seed in the East -- presuming it can keep pace with Brooklyn. The two teams enter this week tied in the loss column, though Milwaukee has to play five games as compared to Brooklyn's four. The Bucks, on the other hand, hold the tiebreaker. Given the second seed comes with the chance to host a potential second-round series against Brooklyn, there's every reason for the Bucks to push to the finish. -- Bontemps
This week: ORL, @IND, MIA, @CHI
6. Denver Nuggets
2020-21 record: 44-24
Previous ranking: 5
Denver has stumbled of late, losing three of its past four games. But the Nuggets' losses were all close ones to the Lakers, Jazz and Nets. Leading MVP candidate Nikola Jokic missed three shots inside in the final minute against Brooklyn, but he has scored 30 or more in four of his past seven games. Denver owns the tiebreaker over the Clippers but trails them by one game for the third seed entering the final week of the season. Like the Clippers, the Nuggets finish the season on the road, playing at Charlotte, Minnesota, Detroit and Portland. The Nuggets hope to get healthier before the postseason, with Monte Morris and Will Barton out and Aaron Gordon missing Denver's most recent game with a calf issue. -- Youngmisuk
This week: @CHA, @MIN, @DET, @POR
7. LA Clippers
2020-21 record: 45-23
Previous ranking: 7
The Clippers are getting closer to full strength, and that is a good thing, because they aren't close to playing their best basketball right now. They looked like they were stuck "in mud," as Kawhi Leonard put it, after Sunday's home loss to the Knicks And they have lost four of their past six as they hit the road for the final four games of the regular season. Leonard admitted he has a hand issue to go with the foot injury he recently returned from. But Serge Ibaka could finally be nearing a return, as he could join the team on the trip. While the Clippers are battling the Nuggets for the third seed, Ty Lue's biggest goal is to get everyone on the same page, figure out the rotation, develop chemistry and improve the defense entering the playoffs. -- Youngmisuk
This week: @TOR, @CHA, @HOU, @OKC
8. New York Knicks
2020-21 record: 38-30
Previous ranking: 8
Sunday's win against the Clippers at Staples Center allowed the Knicks to remain in fourth place in the East by themselves, one game ahead of the Hawks and the Heat. New York continues to defy its skeptics. And if they can win another game at Staples on Tuesday against the Lakers, the Knicks will have to feel good about their chances of at least hanging onto either the fourth or fifth spot in the East -- and, as a result, avoiding having to face any of the East's top three seeds in the first round. -- Bontemps
This week: @LAL, SAS, CHA, BOS
9. Dallas Mavericks
2020-21 record: 40-28
Previous ranking: 10
Kristaps Porzingis has missed the past six games due to soreness in his surgically repaired right knee, which is particularly concerning considering he has never finished an NBA season healthy. Coach Rick Carlisle anticipates Porzingis will return before the end of the regular season but says he isn't sure when. The Mavs have still gotten major production recently from the deal that brought Porzingis to Dallas, as Tim Hardaway Jr. has averaged 27 points and shot 52.5% from 3-point range over his past six games. -- MacMahon
This week: @MEM, NOP, TOR, @MIN
10. Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 record: 39-29
Previous ranking: 11
Portland has won seven of its past eight contests, and within that stretch, Damian Lillard is averaging 33.8 points on 52% shooting. The Blazers' slump a few weeks ago had a lot of reasons behind it, but the overarching issue was that Lillard wasn't producing at his standard. Since then, the power of Dame was possibly on display on a bigger-than-basketball level, with him tweeting about wanting fans in Portland's home building -- and having his wish granted a few days later. -- Young
This week: HOU, @UTA, @PHO, DEN
11. Los Angeles Lakers
2020-21 record: 38-30
Previous ranking: 9
Anthony Davis looked as good as he has looked all season -- even better than he did before his right leg injuries -- in games against the Blazers and Suns to end the week. While L.A. lost a close one to Portland, Davis still put up 36 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and a block. Two nights later, in a dominating win over Phoenix, Davis notched 42 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, with three blocks and three steals, becoming the first player in franchise history with such a stat line. With LeBron James and Dennis Schroder both expected back on the court sometime this week, the Lakers might have a postseason run left in them yet. -- McMenamin
This week: NYK, HOU, @IND, @NOP
12. Miami Heat
2020-21 record: 37-31
Previous ranking: 13
Miami comes into the week in a tie for fifth in the East with the Hawks -- and just a game behind the Knicks for the fourth spot. (The Heat also own the tiebreaker over New York.) As he did throughout their bubble run last season, Jimmy Butler looks primed to play some of his best basketball when it matters most. Butler scored 26 points and dished out 11 assists in Sunday's win over the Celtics, and he is averaging 24.3 points over his past six games. -- Friedell
This week: @BOS, PHI, @MIL, @DET
13. Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 record: 37-31
Previous ranking: 12
A big part of Atlanta's start to the season was dealing with a slew of injuries. And it could get another addition back soon. De'Andre Hunter has played in just two games since Jan. 29, but he is listed as questionable for Monday's contest against Washington. In 20 games (18 starts) this season, Hunter is averaging 16 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 50.2%. How coach Nate McMillan uses Hunter at this point in the season remains to be seen. When Hunter returned for two games in mid-March, he came off the bench. -- Lopez
This week: WAS, WAS, ORL, HOU
14. Golden State Warriors
2020-21 record: 35-33
Previous ranking: 15
The Stephen Curry show just keeps rolling along. Curry scored 49 points in 29 minutes during Saturday's win over the Thunder, and he looks primed to carry the Warriors into the play-in tournament. The Warriors -- who have won 11 of their past 16 -- come into Monday's showdown with the Jazz just half a game ahead of the Grizzlies for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. -- Friedell
This week: UTA, PHO, NOP, MEM
15. Boston Celtics
2020-21 record: 35-33
Previous ranking: 14
Sunday's loss to the Heat pushed Boston far closer to taking part in the NBA's inaugural play-in tournament. If the Celtics lose to Miami again on Tuesday, their trip to the play-in will be all but assured. Beyond that, the Celtics will be hoping that Jaylen Brown (sprained ankle) and Robert Williams III (turf toe) will be healthy by the time their play-in or playoffs begins. -- Bontemps
This week: MIA, @CLE, @MIN, @NYK
16. Washington Wizards
2020-21 record: 32-36
Previous ranking: 18
Russell Westbrook continues to be a man on a mission and can set the record for most triple-doubles in a career this week, starting Monday at Atlanta. But he will have to do so without Bradley Beal, who will be out with a hamstring strain and could miss more games. Beal was injured Saturday, but Westbrook did it all to help the Wizards beat the Pacers twice in a week to move into ninth in the East by half a game. (Washington owns the tiebreaker over Indiana.) With two huge consecutive games at Atlanta and then home games against Cleveland and Charlotte, the Wizards are amazingly one game out of eighth behind the Hornets. -- Youngmisuk
This week: @ATL, @ATL, CLE, CHA
17. Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 record: 34-33
Previous ranking: 16
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting in Saturday's win over the Raptors during his first start of the season. Jackson has struggled to find his shooting touch after missing the vast majority of the campaign while recovering from meniscus surgery; he is shooting only 27.3% from 3-point range, a drop of more than 12% from last season. Jackson and fellow franchise cornerstone Ja Morant have played only 134 minutes together this season. -- MacMahon
This week: NOP, DAL, SAC, SAC, @GSW
18. Charlotte Hornets
2020-21 record: 33-35
Previous ranking: 17
Charlotte comes into the final week clinging to a one-game lead for the eighth spot over the late-charging Wizards. Terry Rozier continues to provide a big offensive lift for the Hornets, posting 73 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists over his past two games. With Gordon Hayward (foot) still out, Rozier has to keep delivering to help Charlotte secure the eighth spot -- especially given the Hornets have a brutal four-game stretch to close the season (Nuggets, Clippers, Knicks and Wizards). -- Friedell
This week: DEN, LAC, @NYK, @WAS
19. San Antonio Spurs
2020-21 record: 32-35
Previous ranking: 19
The Spurs have lost six of their past seven games, and their final five don't get any easier. They have a home outing against Milwaukee and a trip to take on Brooklyn and New York, before returning home for two games to close out the season against the Suns, who are fighting for the top seed in the West. San Antonio trails Memphis by two games in the fight for the ninth seed and are 2.5 games back of Golden State for eighth, while maintaining a 1.5-game lead on the Pelicans for the 10th and final spot in the play-in tournament. -- Lopez
This week: MIL, @BRK, @NYK, PHO, PHO
20. Indiana Pacers
2020-21 record: 31-36
Previous ranking: 20
Indiana averaged 136.5 points in its two games against the Wizards last week -- and went 0-2. Despite their scoring output, the Pacers lost 154-141 at Washington last Monday and then fell 133-132 in overtime on Saturday. Despite getting his shot blocked at the end of the second Washington game, it might have been Caris LeVert's best week as a Pacer. He had three 30-point games and averaged 28.3 points, 7.0 assists and 6.8 rebounds in four tilts. -- Lopez
This week: @CLE, PHI, MIL, LAL, @TOR
21. New Orleans Pelicans
2020-21 record: 31-37
Previous ranking: 22
So you're saying there's a chance? The Pelicans are just 1.5 games back from the Spurs with four to play (five for San Antonio). However, New Orleans is dealing with absences to Zion Williamson (fractured left ring finger) and Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain). Ingram was listed as doubtful prior to Sunday's win over the Hornets, so he could return by the end of the three-game trip (at Memphis, Dallas and Golden State). The Pelicans said Williamson will be out indefinitely. -- Lopez
This week: @MEM, @DAL, @GSW, LAL
22. Sacramento Kings
2020-21 record: 30-38
Previous ranking: 23
The Kings' inexplicable season continued with a 28-point blowout win over Oklahoma City on Sunday. Sacramento is now 6-2 since De'Aaron Fox, their best player enjoying the best season of his four-year career, went out due to health and safety protocols. The late surge has kept a faint glimmer of hope alive for the Kings' playoff chances. They trail the Spurs by 2.5 games for the final play-in spot in the West with four games left to play. -- McMenamin
This week: OKC, @MEM, @MEM, UTA
23. Chicago Bulls
2020-21 record: 29-39
Previous ranking: 24
Zach LaVine is finally back for a Bulls team that is clinging to faint play-in hopes and sits three games behind the Pacers in the loss column for the final spot in the East play-in tournament. LaVine's reemergence, after missing close to a month because of COVID-19 protocols, will likely leave the Bulls wondering what might have been if he had been able to stay on the floor. LaVine dropped 30 points and six assists in Sunday's win over the Pistons. -- Friedell
This week: BRK, TOR, @BRK, MIL
24. Toronto Raptors
2020-21 record: 27-41
Previous ranking: 21
Toronto is playing out the string, spending what (hopefully) will be its final week without being able to play at Scotiabank Arena before heading into the offseason. It's been a frustrating and disappointing season for the Raptors, who have dealt with myriad injuries in addition to having their season derailed by COVID-19 shortly before the All-Star break. Now they'll be hoping to find some lottery luck next month. -- Bontemps
This week: LAC, @CHI, @DAL, IND
25. Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21 record: 21-47
Previous ranking: 25
The Wolves broke their three-game losing streak by obliterating the Magic on Sunday. Over the past 30 days, the Wolves are 8-7 and showing serious signs of progression. Among the biggest is Anthony Edwards' late-season Rookie of the Year push. The No. 1 pick dropped 42 on an absurd 17-of-22 shooting against the Grizzlies last week, and he has been demonstrating the kind of night-to-night consistency the franchise hopes pushes it toward playoff contention. -- Young
This week: @DET, DEN, BOS, DAL
26. Orlando Magic
2020-21 record: 21-47
Previous ranking: 27
Here are some positives for the Magic as they head into the final week of the season: Rookie point guard R.J. Hampton scored 19 points in Saturday's loss to the Timberwolves, and he has scored in double figures in six straight games; and center Mo Bamba combined for 50 points and 48 rebounds during a three-game stretch last week. -- Friedell
This week: MIN, @MIL, @ATL, @PHI, @PHI
27. Detroit Pistons
2020-21 record: 20-49
Previous ranking: 28
The Pistons have kept Jerami Grant out of the lineup in 12 of their past 18 games with knee soreness as they keep their spot toward the bottom of the standings. They're now tied with Minnesota for the second-worst record in the league at 20-47. Grant's vacated touches gave rookie Killian Hayes an opportunity against Chicago on Sunday, and he filled up the box score with 21 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds -- and 7 turnovers. -- McMenamin
This week: MIN, DEN, MIA
28. Cleveland Cavaliers
2020-21 record: 21-47
Previous ranking: 26
The Cavs' 124-97 loss to the Mavericks on Sunday was Cleveland's 10th straight defeat. With four games left on the schedule, the Cavaliers are flirting with losing 50-plus games for the fourth time in their last seven seasons when LeBron James wasn't on the roster. -- McMenamin
This week: IND, BOS, @WAS, @BRK
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
2020-21 record: 21-48
Previous ranking: 29
With another blowout loss Sunday, the Thunder's league-worst net rating sunk even lower, to minus-10.4. But that doesn't tell the story of how truly dreadful the Thunder have been following the All-Star break. Since then, the Thunder's net rating is -- brace yourselves -- minus-16.1. The team they've fielded since the break has a legitimate case as the worst in NBA history. Put another way: Per ESPN Stats & Information research, the Thunder have been outscored by 490 points in their past 25 games, the worst margin of defeat by any team in any 25-game span in NBA history. -- Young
This week: @SAC, UTA, LAC
30. Houston Rockets
2020-21 record: 16-52
Previous ranking: 30
The Rockets are so ravaged by injuries that players on 10-day contracts step right into rotation roles. Guard Khyri Thomas responded by averaging 21.5 points on 57.1% shooting in a back-to-back on the first two nights of his deal. Houston has the league's worst record by four games, assuring the Rockets of maximizing their lottery odds, meaning they will have a 52.1% chance of keeping their top-4-protected pick, instead of shipping it to the Thunder in a three-way swap for the Heat's first-rounder. -- MacMahon
This week: @POR, @LAL, LAC, @ATL