The Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets were both eliminated from playoff contention Thursday night after losses, as relayed by Keith Smith of Spotrac.
Washington dropped an overtime game to the Orlando Magic, falling to 16-49 on the season. With just 17 games remaining, the Wizards are 18 wins behind the No. 10 Charlotte Hornets, making it mathematically impossible to close the gap.
The situation is nearly identical in Brooklyn.
The Nets lost Thursday at the Atlanta Hawks and fell to 17-49. With 16 games left, they trail Charlotte by 17 wins, or 16.5 games in the standings.
That officially removes both teams from the postseason race. They join the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings as the first four teams eliminated this season.
There are also draft implications for Washington.
The Wizards owe their 2026 first round pick to the New York Knicks, though it is top-eight protected. If the pick lands outside the top eight, it will convey to New York.
Right now that appears unlikely. Washington owns the third worst record in the league and could finish no worse than seventh in the draft lottery.
If the pick does not convey, the Wizards would instead send the Knicks two second round selections in 2026 and 2027.
Meanwhile, the Nets still control their 2026 first round pick.
They do not control their 2027 first rounder outright, however. The Houston Rockets hold the right to swap picks with Brooklyn that year.
Even so, the Nets would still control two first round selections in 2027 if they finish with a worse record than Houston. Those would be Houston’s pick and one from the Knicks.
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