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The NBA's playoff push for this season has hit its final day. Here's a look at what's happening

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The NBA's playoff push for this season has hit its final day. Here's a look at what's happening
Sport

Sport

The NBA's playoff push for this season has hit its final day. Here's a look at what's happening

2026-04-12 21:26 Last Updated At:21:30

The final day of the NBA's regular season has arrived, with much left to decide. There are 30 teams, all of which will play Game 82 on Sunday, and all those clubs fall into one of three 10-team groups right now.

— Fans of Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Houston, Minnesota, Phoenix, Golden State, Detroit, Boston, New York and Cleveland, go ahead and relax. Your team's seed is all set.

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Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, center, shoots as he gets caught between Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr., left, and guard Jaylen Clark during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, center, shoots as he gets caught between Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr., left, and guard Jaylen Clark during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and teammate Dyson Daniels (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and teammate Dyson Daniels (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Washington Wizards guard Will Riley (27) gets his arm stuck with Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Washington Wizards guard Will Riley (27) gets his arm stuck with Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) is fouled by Washington Wizards forward Julian "Juju" Reese (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) is fouled by Washington Wizards forward Julian "Juju" Reese (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) dunks ober Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) dunks ober Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Utah Jazz guard John Konchar, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Utah Jazz guard John Konchar, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins, top, and guard Bennedict Mathurin, bottom, battle for a loose ball with Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins, top, and guard Bennedict Mathurin, bottom, battle for a loose ball with Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (27) celebrates against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March. 30, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (27) celebrates against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March. 30, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff gestures to an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff gestures to an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) hangs on the rim after dunking over Orlando Magic's Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and Jevon Carter, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) hangs on the rim after dunking over Orlando Magic's Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and Jevon Carter, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) works to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) works to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) and Dwight Powell, right, celebrate a basket by Flagg in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) and Dwight Powell, right, celebrate a basket by Flagg in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, struggles to field a pass as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, struggles to field a pass as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks for a play against Utah Jazz guard John Konchar (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks for a play against Utah Jazz guard John Konchar (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) holds the ball away from Utah Jazz guard John Konchar during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) holds the ball away from Utah Jazz guard John Konchar during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson, left, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson, left, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Toronto Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl (front) is fouled by Orlando Magic centre Goga Bitadze (back left) as Magic forward Paolo Banchero (right) looks on during first half NBA action in Toronto on Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl (front) is fouled by Orlando Magic centre Goga Bitadze (back left) as Magic forward Paolo Banchero (right) looks on during first half NBA action in Toronto on Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

— Fans of Denver, the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta, Toronto, Orlando, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Miami, prepare yourselves. Your team still has things to play for.

— Fans of Milwaukee, Chicago, Brooklyn, Indiana, Washington, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas, Sacramento and Utah, enjoy the season finales.

— A look at the last day of the season

— Wemby hits award-qualification standard. But will Jokic?

— A wild night in the NBA, with lots of players out with injuries

— Heat waive Terry Rozier

— SGA leads the MVP race, but there is intrigue

— 76ers' Joel Embiid has appendectomy

— NBC says more 'On The Bench’ game coverage likely

— Doc Rivers hints at retirement

— The playoffs, thankfully, are coming

— The Bulls want to keep Billy Donovan ... but does Donovan want to stay?

Here's what we know so far regarding the NBA playoff field for this season.

— Eastern Conference No. 1: Detroit.

— East No. 2: Boston.

— East No. 3: New York.

— East No. 4: Cleveland.

— East No. 5 and No. 6: Atlanta will have one of these spots. Toronto is the only other team that can reach the No. 5 seed, but it could also finish No. 6, No. 7 or No. 8 as well. There are some scenarios where Orlando and Philadelphia can sneak into the No. 6 spot. The Magic need a win over Boston, plus wins by Brooklyn (over Toronto) and Milwaukee (over Philadelphia) to reach No. 6. The 76ers need a win, plus an Orlando loss and a Brooklyn win to reach No. 6.

— East play-in: Toronto, Orlando and Philadelphia are the three teams that could finish in the No. 7 and No. 8 spots. Nos. 9 and 10 will be Charlotte and Miami, in some order. A Heat win over Atlanta and a Hornets loss to New York means Miami will be No. 9. Otherwise, Charlotte will be the 9 seed.

— East eliminated teams: Milwaukee, Chicago, Indiana, Brooklyn and Washington.

— Western Conference No. 1: Oklahoma City.

— West No. 2: San Antonio.

— West No. 3 and No. 4: Denver and Los Angeles Lakers. Denver gets No. 3 with a win over San Antonio or a Lakers loss to Utah. If neither of those things happen, the Lakers get the No. 3 seed.

— West No. 5: Houston.

— West No. 6: Minnesota.

— West play-in: Phoenix is No. 7, Portland and the Los Angeles Clippers will be No. 8 and No. 9 in some order (the Trail Blazers control destinies there), and Golden State is No. 10.

— West eliminated teams: Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, Utah and Sacramento.

The games with seeding implications on Sunday:

— Orlando at Boston: Magic can escape play-in with a win, would be in 7-vs.-8 game with a loss.

— Atlanta at Miami: Hawks would be No. 5 seed with a win, Miami could get to No. 9 with a win.

— Charlotte at New York: Hornets would be No. 9 seed and host Miami in play-in with a victory.

— Milwaukee at Philadelphia: 76ers would be No. 8 seed with a loss, will be No. 6, 7 or 8 with win.

— Brooklyn at Toronto: Raptors go to playoffs as No. 5 or 6 seed with win, could fall to 8 with loss.

— Denver at San Antonio: Nuggets would be 3 seed with win, probably would fall to 4 with a loss.

— Utah at LA Lakers: Lakers probably would be 3 seed with win, would fall to 4 with a loss.

— Golden State at LA Clippers: This might be a preview of a Warriors-Clippers play-in 9-10 game.

— Sacramento at Portland: Trail Blazers would hold off Clippers for the No. 8 seed with a win.

And the games with no relevance on standings: Washington at Cleveland, Detroit at Indiana, Chicago at Dallas, Memphis at Houston, New Orleans at Minnesota, Phoenix at Oklahoma City.

Sunday on ESPN: Orlando-Boston (6 p.m. Eastern) and Denver-San Antonio (8:30 p.m.)

Oklahoma City (+130) is favored to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, followed by San Antonio (+450), Boston (+550), Denver (+1000), Cleveland (+1300) and New York (+2000). Detroit, the No. 1 seed in the East, is +2000. The Los Angeles Lakers were +2500 before Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves got hurt; they're +20000 now.

Some of the NBA's play-in tournament schedule is now known:

— Phoenix will play host to either the LA Clippers or Portland on Tuesday at 10 p.m. Eastern. (The winner of that game will play No. 2 San Antonio in Round 1, the loser will play a home game on Friday for the right to play No. 1 Oklahoma City in Round 1).

— Golden State will visit either the LA Clippers or Portland on Wednesday at 10 p.m. Eastern. (The loser of that game is eliminated, the winner moves on to Friday.)

All games in the play-in tournament will be shown on Prime Video.

— Sunday: All 30 teams play their regular-season finales.

— April 14, 15 and 17: NBA play-in tournament dates.

— April 18 and 19: NBA playoff series openers.

— May 2, 3 or 4: Conference semifinals begin.

— May 10: NBA draft lottery.

— May 10-17: NBA draft combine.

— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.

— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.

— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).

— At least 150 players (and probably many more) will be held out of the 30 games on Sunday. The combined salaries this season of those who were announced on Saturday's injury reports as out for Sunday's finales: just over $2.5 billion.

— The average margin of victory in the NBA this season is 13.2 points, the biggest in league history (and is certain to finish as a record). The previous mark was 12.7 points, set last season. This is the fourth time in the last five years that the point-differential-in-wins record will fall.

— The NBA remains on pace to see more points this season than ever before. The current pace is about 284,258, which would be reached on Sunday; the record total for a season is 282,137, set in 2022-23.

— There are 18 players with a chance to play in all 82 of their team's regular-season games this season. That would be the most in the 82-game club since 19 players did it in the 2018-19 season.

— Denver has a chance to become the fourth team to finish a regular season with a winning streak of 12 games or better. Philadelphia won its last 16 in 2017-18, Rochester won its final 15 games of the 1949-50 season (then lost a tiebreaker) and Milwaukee won its last 14 games in 1972-73.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, center, shoots as he gets caught between Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr., left, and guard Jaylen Clark during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, center, shoots as he gets caught between Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr., left, and guard Jaylen Clark during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and teammate Dyson Daniels (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and teammate Dyson Daniels (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Washington Wizards guard Will Riley (27) gets his arm stuck with Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Washington Wizards guard Will Riley (27) gets his arm stuck with Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) is fouled by Washington Wizards forward Julian "Juju" Reese (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) is fouled by Washington Wizards forward Julian "Juju" Reese (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) dunks ober Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) dunks ober Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Utah Jazz guard John Konchar, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Utah Jazz guard John Konchar, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins, top, and guard Bennedict Mathurin, bottom, battle for a loose ball with Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins, top, and guard Bennedict Mathurin, bottom, battle for a loose ball with Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (27) celebrates against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March. 30, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (27) celebrates against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March. 30, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff gestures to an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff gestures to an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) hangs on the rim after dunking over Orlando Magic's Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and Jevon Carter, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) hangs on the rim after dunking over Orlando Magic's Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and Jevon Carter, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) works to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) works to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) and Dwight Powell, right, celebrate a basket by Flagg in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) and Dwight Powell, right, celebrate a basket by Flagg in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, struggles to field a pass as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, struggles to field a pass as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks for a play against Utah Jazz guard John Konchar (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks for a play against Utah Jazz guard John Konchar (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) holds the ball away from Utah Jazz guard John Konchar during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) holds the ball away from Utah Jazz guard John Konchar during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson, left, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson, left, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Toronto Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl (front) is fouled by Orlando Magic centre Goga Bitadze (back left) as Magic forward Paolo Banchero (right) looks on during first half NBA action in Toronto on Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl (front) is fouled by Orlando Magic centre Goga Bitadze (back left) as Magic forward Paolo Banchero (right) looks on during first half NBA action in Toronto on Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Russia's first wartime parliamentary election was due to end Sunday, virtually devoid of opposition to President Vladimir Putin's policies and all but certain to cement the Kremlin’s dominance. The last day of the election came as Ukrainian forces fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia overnight, including hundreds that were launched toward Moscow.

The vote began Friday, and authorities encouraged online balloting to boost turnout among its 111 million eligible voters.

For the first time, the election included residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed after the war began but still doesn’t fully control. Voting is also taking place in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Authorities in Kyiv denounced the voting in the Russian-held areas as illegal and urged foreign governments not to recognize the result. The European Union on Friday called the action a “blatant violation of international law.”

The Kremlin wants the parliamentary election — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — to showcase popular support for the war and legitimize its action. It has sought to avoid political risks by stamping out any dissent.

A massive state media campaign and tight control over the election in the absence of genuine opposition all but assure the Kremlin will keep tight control of Russian politics amid mounting economic costs and increasing Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside the country.

Voters cast two separate ballots, filling half of the Duma’s 450 seats by selecting political parties listed on the ballot. The rest are contested in single-seat constituencies, with voters choosing individual candidates.

Preliminary results are expected within hours of voting ending in the country’s west.

The main Kremlin party, United Russia, is widely expected to retain its overwhelming control of the lower house, the State Duma. Several smaller parties of the “systemic opposition” that vote in sync with Putin's views on all key issues also are expected to maintain their presence.

The liberal Yabloko party, the only registered political entity that dared to publicly criticize the war, was removed from the ballot last month by Russia’s Supreme Court, and only has a few dozen candidates in the single-constituency races. Additionally, some anti-war politicians were imprisoned or forced to flee abroad ahead of the campaign.

Yabloko and the Communist Party, which has criticized some aspects of government policy but carefully avoided any criticism of Putin, said many of their observers were turned away from polling stations.

Russia didn’t invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the Russian Foreign Ministry accusing the body of “double standards” for its criticism of Russia. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons said that the decision was a breach of Russia’s commitments as a member state of the organization.

Yabloko reported that one of its observers lost consciousness while being arrested by police at a St. Petersburg polling station on Saturday, after officials accused him of trying to “disrupt the elections” and called police.

The parties reported violations including sealed ballot boxes being opened, doors to polling stations not being secured overnight, and a refusal to issue paper ballots. The claims could not be independently verified.

At one polling station in the Russian-held part of the Donetsk region, voters dropped their ballots in a box as an armed Russian soldier stood nearby and watched.

Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia’s Central Election Commission, said Sunday that the electronic voting system had been targeted by cyberattacks in Moscow.

SotaVision, an independent Russian news outlet, said Sunday that voters were reporting glitches in the electronic registry systems at polling stations across Moscow. People were not issued paper ballots and instead were asked to vote via an electronic terminal, the outlet said on Telegram.

Leonid Volkov, a close associate of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, suggested the supposed breakdown of the system used to issue paper ballots in Moscow may have been deliberate, aimed at pushing voters toward electronic voting.

“Demand a paper ballot!” he wrote on X on Sunday.

Having urged supporters to spoil party-list ballots, Yabloko party leader Nikolai Rybakov cast a ballot in St. Petersburg on Sunday, covered in bright green writing declaring “For freedom," “For peace,” and “Yabloko.”

Russia’s exiled opposition, including the widow of Alexei Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, called on anti-war Russians to cast their votes at noon on Sunday.

Thousands of Russians living in Armenia took part in the vote. Russian citizens lined up outside the Russian Embassy in the capital, Yerevan, on Sunday, to join the “Noon for a Peaceful Russia” anti-war demonstration. Some held anti-war and anti-Putin posters.

In Germany, voters cast their ballots at the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Andrei Pivovarov, a Russian dissident and former head of the Open Russia group, addressed a protest gathered outside the building.

The election's last day came against a backdrop of a major wave of Ukrainian attacks. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Sunday that its forces shot down a total of 1,110 Ukrainian drones across Russia, as well as over the annexed Crimea and the Black Sea.

Two people were killed and 20 wounded across the wider Moscow region, local Gov. Andrei Vorobyov said.

The election follows a summer of Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on oil refineries that triggered a widespread fuel crisis. Warehouses belonging to online retailers Wildberries and Ozon also were attacked. Those attacks have exacerbated economic problems and brought the war home for millions.

A voter looks through a ballot during the parliamentary election in Moscow, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

A voter looks through a ballot during the parliamentary election in Moscow, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Russian political activist Andrei Pivovarov speaks during a protest in front of Russian embassy as people cast their vote for the Russian parliament election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Russian political activist Andrei Pivovarov speaks during a protest in front of Russian embassy as people cast their vote for the Russian parliament election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Russian citizens line up outside the Russian Embassy to join an anti-war demonstration to protest the ruling United Russia party and Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine in Yerevan, Armenia, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, during the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections. (AP Photo/Anthony Pizzoferrato)

Russian citizens line up outside the Russian Embassy to join an anti-war demonstration to protest the ruling United Russia party and Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine in Yerevan, Armenia, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, during the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections. (AP Photo/Anthony Pizzoferrato)

Yabloko party leader Nikolai Rybakov casts a ballot with a writing in Russian reading "For freedom" during the parliamentary election in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Yabloko party leader Nikolai Rybakov casts a ballot with a writing in Russian reading "For freedom" during the parliamentary election in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

A voter casts a ballot in the parliamentary election in Moscow, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

A voter casts a ballot in the parliamentary election in Moscow, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

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