All articles tagged with #regular season finale
The Chicago Bears plan to play their starters in the final game against the Lions to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, build momentum after a recent loss, and possibly avenge an earlier defeat, relying on veteran leadership to maintain focus and performance.
Highlights from an exciting NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway, marking the end of the regular season with a dramatic duel under the lights.
The New York Rangers have the opportunity to clinch the Presidents' Trophy, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the Metro Division title with a win in their regular-season finale against the Ottawa Senators. While the focus is on the upcoming playoffs, the team is determined to finish the regular season on a high note and is treating the game as a priority. The projected lineup includes key players and potential defensive tweaks, with the coach emphasizing the importance of maintaining a competitive edge heading into the playoffs.
Svi Mykhailiuk's career-high-tying 26 points and impressive performance, along with standout showings from Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta, helped the Boston Celtics close out the regular season with a 132-122 win over the Washington Wizards. Mykhailiuk, who embraced an elevated role in the absence of key players, showcased his skills and readiness to contribute when called upon, earning praise from head coach Joe Mazzulla for his work ethic and impact on the team.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. The playoff scenarios are complex, with the Timberwolves needing a win against the Phoenix Suns and potential losses from the Thunder or Nuggets to secure the No. 1 seed. The Nuggets may rest key players, potentially impacting the playoff seeding. Depending on the outcome, the Timberwolves could face various teams in the first round, with the No. 1 seed offering the most favorable matchups.
With just two days left in the NBA regular season, the playoff picture is still uncertain, with multiple teams vying for seeding positions. In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets are in a three-way tie for the top seed, while the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks have secured the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively. In the East, the battle for the No. 2 seed continues between the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers, and several teams are competing for the No. 5 seed. The play-in tournament matchups are also taking shape, with the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers set to face off in the West, and the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat in the East.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a complex playoff scenario with multiple potential outcomes depending on the results of the final regular-season games. If they win, they could secure the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, but if they lose, they may end up as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed. The playoff picture is further complicated by the outcomes of other games involving teams like Denver, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and the Lakers.
The San Francisco 49ers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in their regular season finale, but it didn't affect their No. 1 seed status. The offense had a strong first half with long scoring drives, but struggled in the second half. Some players achieved career firsts, while kicker Jake Moody had a rough game. The receiving corps had issues, and the loss ended the 49ers' regular season winning streak and their perfect record against the NFC West.
The Detroit Lions ended their regular season with a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings, with Jared Goff delivering a strong performance and the defense creating havoc for the Vikings. Goff completed 23-of-32 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense accounted for 11 quarterback hits and three sacks. The Lions head into the postseason as division champions for the first time in 30 years, with their coaching staff receiving praise for their work in getting the team focused and aggressive play.
The Kansas City Chiefs won their regular season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, with several players making an impact. Chris Jones stood out by securing a $1.25 million bonus with his performance, while also contributing significantly to the team's victory. Other players also showcased their potential for the playoffs and future seasons, despite the game's limited significance in the playoff standings.
The 49ers lost 21-20 to the Rams in their regular season finale, but the game didn't affect their standings. Key takeaways include the team's focus on playoff preparation, Sam Darnold's performance, concerns about the kicking game, the emergence of undrafted free agent Tayler Hawkins, and the depth of the 49ers' backfield. The game also ended the 49ers' winning streaks against the Rams and NFC West opponents, but the loss didn't carry significant meaning as the 49ers had already clinched the No. 1 seed.
The San Francisco 49ers lost their regular-season finale to the Los Angeles Rams, ending their winning streak against NFC West opponents. The game had a preseason feel as both teams rested key players and focused on preparing for the playoffs. Quarterback Sam Darnold made his first start with the 49ers, showing promise with a touchdown pass and rush. Rookie kicker Jake Moody's missed field goal and extra point raised concerns, while injuries to key players added uncertainty heading into the postseason. Safety Tayler Hawkins made his NFL debut and impressed with an interception, while defensive end Robert Beal had a standout performance.
The Houston Astros secured their sixth American League West title in seven seasons with an 8-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in their regular-season finale. The Astros watched the out-of-town scoreboard as they needed the Seattle Mariners to beat the Texas Rangers to clinch the division title, and when the Mariners won, Houston celebrated. The Astros finished with the same record as the Rangers but owned the tiebreaker, earning them the No. 2 seed in the AL playoffs and a bye to the AL Division Series. They will face the winner of the Wild Card Series between the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays.
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Daytona International Speedway for the regular-season finale, where drivers will compete for the final playoff spot. Austin Dillon, the defending winner, leads the list of frontrunners, followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr. Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez need a win to secure a playoff spot, while Ty Gibbs aims to pass Wallace for the final spot.
The Boston Bruins ended their historic regular season campaign with a 5-4 win against the Montreal Canadiens, finishing with a record of 65-12-5. Despite having already clinched the No. 1 seed and broken numerous records, the Bruins played with their usual intensity and David Pastrnak scored the game-winning goal. The Canadiens ended their season at 31-45-6.