The Chicago Bulls wanted a rematch with the Nets. They ended up getting one with the Miami Heat.

The Golden State Warriors have to play the league-best Dallas Mavericks, but who cares? After an NBA-high 12-year absence, any postseason appearance is cause for celebration.

"I'm very relieved at this particular moment. I'll wake up tomorrow and it'll be a new day and I'll have a new challenge," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "But at this particular time I'm going to sit back, drink a cold beer and enjoy the moment."

The Warriors did just that, beating Portland 120-98 Wednesday night to clinch the No. 8 seed and their first postseason trip since 1994 — when Nelson was their coach in his previous stint in the Bay Area.

The big loser on the final night of the regular season was Chicago, which fell 106-97 in New Jersey. A victory would have given the Bulls the No. 2 seed and dropped the Nets to seventh, setting up a first-round series in the Eastern Conference.

Instead, the Bulls tumbled to fifth after Cleveland beat Milwaukee 109-96. The Cavaliers grabbed the No. 2 seed and forced Chicago to open the postseason against Miami, which beat the Bulls in six games last year to kick off its run to the title.

There will be two other rematches from last year in the first round. The Lakers' 117-106 victory over Sacramento gave them another shot at the Phoenix Suns, who rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat them. Cleveland has a good chance to eliminate Washington again, since the Wizards are without All-Stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler.

New Jersey clinched the No. 6 seed and will play the first game of the postseason Saturday afternoon against the Atlantic Division champion Raptors in Toronto, where Vince Carter is likely to hear boos every time he touches the ball.

Carter starred for the Raptors for more than six seasons before his unhappiness forced Toronto to trade him to the Nets in December 2004.

"That matchup, I welcome it. I'm sure that he wants to play here. I don't mind seeing him, either," said Toronto's Chris Bosh, a former teammate. "It's a turning part for this organization. Who better to play than the guy who helped build this place up?"

Also, Washington's 98-95 victory in Indiana sent Orlando to the No. 8 seed in the East and a first-round series starting Saturday against Detroit, which swept the season series.

The only series that had already been determined entering Wednesday were No. 3 San Antonio against No. 6 Denver, and fourth-seeded Utah against No. 5 Houston. The Spurs and Nuggets rested their top players when they met Wednesday, and Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming skipped the Rockets' victory in Salt Lake City.