Breaking Down Twitter Buzz from the NBA Regular Season's Final Night

The 28 teams playing on the final night of the NBA regular season inhabited a surreal, if fleeting, sort of landscape.

Franchises were essentially divided into three distinct camps: bottom-feeders trying to tank their way to prosperity (76ers, Knicks, Timberwolves, Lakers, Heat); those on the playoff periphery fighting for postseason berths (Thunder, Pelicans, Nets, Pacers); and playoff locks jockeying for valuable seeding position (Rockets, Spurs, Grizzlies, Bulls, Raptors).

It was, in many respects, a bizarre setting not just for the teams, but for all those with any sort of stake in these final games.

The Thunder faithful became Spurs fans. Rockets supporters coalesced into a one-night-only Anthony Davis fan club. Nets fans adopted Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies for a night. Bulls and Raptors fans couldn't decide which seed would serve their team's playoff purposes better, creating divided factions rooting for two drastically different outcomes.

The social media landscape, as it often does, reflected the wide-ranging emotions of all parties involved. Some were irrational, most were ephemeral, others were hilarious and a few were downright depressing.

Here's a look at some of the most buzzworthy social media trends from the final night of the NBA's regular season.

Raptors Defeat Hornets, 92-87, Secure No. 4 Seed

Drake's squad needed a win and a Bulls loss to clinch the No. 3 seed in the East, though that would also mean a potential second-round matchup with Cleveland and LeBron, a scenario many Raptors fans weren't overly thrilled about.

They were, however, excited about the revival of floor general Kyle Lowry, who hadn't been himself since missing seven games with a back injury. Lowry's superb game (26 PTS, 6-9 3PT, 7 AST, 4 REB) had Raptors fans gushing all over the Twittersphere and hopeful that he can continue that sort of All-Star caliber play in the first round against Washington.

Luckily for those in the avoid LeBron at all costs camp, the Bulls defeated the Hawks, so Toronto now gets the opportunity to put a stop to Paul Pierce's trash-talking world tour in Round 1 when it faces the Wizards.

"Paul Pierce has always got to say something," DeMar DeRozan told Ian Harrison following the game. "He said something last year. He's always got to say something. Just let him talk. I could care less what he says."

The Raptors—who swept the Wizards 3-0 this season—aren't backing down from the upcoming battle, and from the looks of it, they'll have all of Canada on their side for this playoff run.

Bulls Rally Past Hawks, 91-85, Hold onto No. 3 Seed

After all they've been through the past few seasons, Bulls fans have an understandably delicate psyche. This game did nothing to help their already damaged mental state.

A poor start in which Chicago lagged out of the gate had Bulls fans come together in a sad display of hopelessness.

"

So, the #Bulls have 7 turnovers this quarter. Ok.......cool.......

— Bulls News/Updates (@CBullsbball) April 16, 2015"

To make it all worse, Derrick Rose was removed from the starting lineup at the beginning of the second half, never to be seen on the court again. This, coupled with the Bulls lethargic play, led to a mental breakdown for Twitter's tortured Bulls fans. 

But a fourth-quarter surge with Atlanta's starters on the bench erased an 18-point deficit and capped an impressive comeback. The win set the Bulls up with a first-round matchup against the Bucks.

Many view the Bulls as the greatest threat to Cleveland's title run in the East, but that can't happen with Rose riding a stationary bike for most of the game. The early indication, at least according to the man himself, is that the rest was more precautionary than anything, and he should be good to go in the playoffs.

"Just felt a little soreness in my left knee," Rose told ESPN's Nick Friedell following the game. "I felt it at the end of the second quarter, so [there] ain't no point in rushing it."

The Bulls can defeat the Bucks without Rose, but in order to beat the James Gang juggernaut in Round 2, Chicago will need the former MVP back. The Eastern Conference playoffs might (again) hinge entirely on the health of Derrick Rose's knees.

Thunder's Demolition of Timberwolves All for Naught, as Pelicans Upset Spurs

There was a lot of fanbase cross-pollination in these two contests.

Thunder fans needed the Spurs to take care of business, while Pelicans fans hoped against hope that the hapless Timberwolves might pull off an upset that would allow New Orleans to avoid the unenviable task of having to defeat the defending champs (even Pops wanted to win this one, a hopeful sign for Oklahoma City).

It was an auspicious beginning for Oklahoma City. Russell Westbrook did Russell Westbrook things, attacking with what appeared to be a legitimate disdain for Minnesota. The Timberwolves, who had no real reason to even attempt winning, were every bit the sacrificial lamb they were expected to be. This game was over from the moment Westbrook stepped on the court.

But then, something magical began happening in New Orleans, and it quickly became clear that this Thunder romp would taste nothing but bittersweet for Westbrook and Co. in the end.

Norris Cole could do no wrong. Anthony Davis made Tim Duncan act his age. Leading by as much as 23, the Pelicans just straight outplayed the Spurs. By the time San Antonio made a run, it was already too late.

Westbrook got his scoring title, but it was of little consolation in the end, with his team's season done.

The win dropped the Spurs all the way down to No. 6, setting them up for a meeting with the Clippers in the first round, a far more difficult pairing than what would have awaited them (the Dallas Mavericks) at No. 2.

The Pelicans' reward for their tremendous, season-on-the-line effort? A a meeting with the Golden State Warriors in Round 1. The odds are slim, but as we witnessed tonight, with The Brow, all is possible.

On the other side of things, the Thunder get to spend an entire offseason playing a running loop of Anthony Davis' three-point buzzer-beater in their heads. A lovely parting memory in a season full of despair in Oklahoma City.

An Ugly Battle out East: Nets "Earn" No. 8 Seed with Win, Pacers Loss

The Nets needed this win, but it didn't appear like anyone on Brooklyn knew. If they did, they certainly didn't care in the early going. The Nets' own TV station didn't even care, relegating the team to a secondary television station only a few fans had.

It got so bad for Brooklyn that its distraught fans made the Bulls' fans look downright giddy by comparison.

The Magic outplayed Brooklyn for most of the game, until the Nets finally found an extra gear in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Memphis took care of business as most expected them to, handling the Pacers at home. One of the final images of Indiana's season—Paul George being carried back to the locker room by two trainers—will serve as a haunting reminder of how fragile and fleeting success in the NBA can be.

So now Brooklyn gets the Hawks in Round 1, while Memphis slides into the No. 5 spot for a meeting with Portland.

Wednesday night's performance by the Nets had many agreeing with Paul Pierce's recent assessment of Brooklyn, but the team has the ability to give Atlanta a few tough games, especially with the way Brook Lopez has played of late. Speaking of Brook, these could be his last games as a Net.

Memphis avoids a deadly first-round battle with the hated Clippers, instead getting a Portland team that, though dangerous, is banged up. Even with a softer first-round matchup, Mike Conley and Tony Allen's health might serve as potential roadblocks to the Grizzlies' title hopes.

If they can't go, or can't heal properly, this season is going to end in early disappointment for a team many pegged as title contenders early on.

Tanks for Playing, See Ya Next Year

It wouldn't be the last day of the season without some tanking shenanigans, right?

Several teams had some incentive to lose, but none went as far as (surprise) Philadelphia, who had rookie Joel Embiid actually drawing plays up during a timeout.

The Heat were a close second, though. They played just six players, with four starters going all 48 minutes. The 76ers eventually out-tanked the Heat, but Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra certainly get an A (or is that an F?) for effort.

Never change, Hinkie and Riley, never change.