The Nets will therefore receive Cleveland (8th) on Tuesday at the Barclays Center.

If they win, they will play the 1st round of the play-offs, as seeded N.7, against the Celtics, who won in Memphis (139-110).

If they lose to the Cavs, all is not lost.

They will have a second chance, still at home, against the winner of the other play-off between Atlanta (9th) and Charlotte (10th), and then it will be Miami, the best team in the conference, that they will have to face.

In the meantime, they did the job against the Pacers (134-126), Kyrie Irving proving to be extremely effective (35 pts, 15/20 on shots, 7 rebounds) and Kevin Durant being in the oven and in the mill with a triple -double in the key (20 pts, 16 assists, 10 rebounds).

Point guard Kyrie Irving scores a basket despite Terry Taylor's defense in the Brooklyn Nets' 134-126 victory over the Indiana Pacers on the final day of the NBA regular season, April 10, 2022 in Brooklyn Sarah Stier GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

"The past few weeks have been up and down for us. It's been a long year and it's the perfect time to play our best basketball," 'KD' called.

Bucks-Bulls and Sixers-Raptors

Nothing is ever written in advance, but the prospect of a clash against Boston, with the backdrop of an All-Star duo duel between Durant/Irving on one side and Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown on the another, is enticing.

These last two (Tatum notably scored 31 points, 11/14 on shots) were decisive in the victory of their team at Grizzlies certainly not concerned, because sure to finish 2nd in the West, and deprived of their phenomenon Ja Morant, preserved.

Jasyon Tatum in the dunk, during the Celtics' victory (139-110) on the Memphis Grizzlies floor, on the last day of the NBA regular season, April 10, 2022 Justin Ford GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

If the C's are seeded N.2, they also owe it to the largely beaten Bucks (133-115) in Cleveland, in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, spared.

Off the bench, veteran Kevin Love found his old shot (32 pts, 10 rebounds) with an 8/11 behind the arc.

Kevin Love scores a basket during the Cleveland Cavaliers' home victory (133-115) against the Milwaukee Bucks, on the last day of the NBA regular season, April 10, 2022 Jason Miller GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Result, Milwaukee, defending champion and therefore seeded N.3, will do battle with Chicago (N.6) to start the play-offs.

Philadelphia, who defeated Detroit (118-106) without Joel Embiid, laid to rest, will be seeded N.4 and will have the advantage of the floor in the 1st round against Toronto (N.5), beaten in New York (105 -94).

Warriors-Nuggets and Mavs-Jazz

In the West, this final day was less at stake.

Golden State managed to finish 3rd, winning in New Orleans (128-107) with a gala Klay Thompson (41 pts, at 16/29).

Klay Thompson, author of 41 points, during the Golden State Warriors' victory over the New Orleans floor (128-107), on the last day of the NBA regular season, April 10, 2022 Sean Gardner GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP

The Warriors, who will recover for the occasion the other "splash brother" Stephen Curry if he is fully recovered from his sprained foot, will face in the 1st round Denver and his MVP in title Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets finishing the season at 6th place.

A shock that promises.

Dallas, who beat San Antonio (130-120), guided by Luka Doncic (26 pts, 9 assists, 8 rebounds), will be seeded N.4, opposed to N.5, in this case Utah, easy winner in Portland (111-80) relying in particular on Rudy Gobert (18 pts, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks).

Slovenian Luka Doncic, author of 26 pts, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, allowed the Dallas Mavericks to win at home against the San Antonio Spurs (130-120), on the last day of the NBA regular season, April 10, 2022 Tim Heitman GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Memphis, seeded N.2, will know its opponent in the play-offs on Tuesday, who will be the winner of the play-off match between the Minnesota Timberwolves of Karl-Athony Towns and the Los Angeles Clippers of Paul George.

The loser of this meeting will have a joker, since he will play his qualification again three days later, against New Orleans or San Antonio, opposed on Wednesday.

With their sights set on the status of seeded N.8 and above all the arduous task of then challenging Phoenix, the best team of the regular season.

© 2022 AFP