NBA Tanking Tracker: Final Day of Regular Season

The race to the draft lottery as teams jockey for the best odds at the No. 1 pick

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the intense competition for draft position.As the NBA regular season reaches its climactic conclusion, teams at the bottom of the standings strategically maneuver for the best odds at the upcoming draft lottery.New Orleans Today

With the NBA regular season winding down, teams are in a fierce battle to secure the worst records and highest odds at the upcoming draft lottery. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the tanking landscape, including each team's current record, winning/losing streaks, lottery odds, and remaining schedules as they vie for the coveted top picks.

Why it matters

The NBA draft lottery is a crucial event that can significantly impact a team's future, as landing a top pick can provide a transformative talent to build around. Teams at the bottom of the standings are strategically losing games to maximize their chances at securing a franchise-altering player in the draft.

The details

The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets currently have the three worst records in the NBA, ensuring they will have the highest odds (14% each) at securing the No. 1 overall pick. The Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz are tied for the fourth-worst record, with 11.5% odds. Further down the standings, the Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans (via the Atlanta Hawks), Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Hornets are all jockeying for position in the play-in tournament and draft lottery.

  • The NBA regular season ends on April 12, 2026.
  • The NBA draft lottery will take place shortly after the regular season concludes.

The players

Washington Wizards

The Wizards have the worst record in the NBA at 17-64, ensuring they will have the highest odds (14%) at securing the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have the second-worst record in the NBA at 19-62, also ensuring they will have the highest odds (14%) at the No. 1 pick.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have the third-worst record in the NBA at 20-61, rounding out the trio of teams with the highest lottery odds (14%) at the No. 1 pick.

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What’s next

The NBA draft lottery will take place shortly after the regular season concludes on April 12, 2026, determining the order of the top picks in the upcoming draft.

The takeaway

As the NBA regular season winds down, the race to the draft lottery has intensified, with several teams strategically losing games to maximize their chances at securing a top pick and potentially landing a franchise-changing talent in the upcoming draft.