Who's in 2026 NBA playoffs? Latest bracket, standings, scenarios
Who's in 2026 NBA playoffs? Latest bracket, standings, scenarios
Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY Thu, April 9, 2026 at 4:34 AM UTC
0
Who's in 2026 NBA playoffs? Latest bracket, standings, scenarios
The NBA's annual play-in tournament is less than a week away. We know, we're shocked, too. However, despite the proximity to the end of the regular season, there are only two teams currently locked into their seeds in the Eastern and Western conferences.
Only the Golden State Warriors (locked into the Western Conference's No. 10 seed) and Detroit Pistons (locked into the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed) know for sure where they'll rank by season's end.
Other than them, it's an absolute mish-mosh of what-ifs and maybes that could shape the NBA's postseason, with five teams in the Eastern Conference fighting it out to ensure they avoid the play-in.
Here are the current NBA standings and what the NBA postseason and play-in tournament would look like if the season ended today.
1 / 0Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponentsOct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.NBA Eastern Conference standings
(Through Wednesday, April 8)
*- clinched conference; d- clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth
*-Detroit Pistons: 58-22
x-Boston Celtics: 54-25 (3.5 GB)
x-New York Knicks: 51-28 (6.5 GB)
x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 51-29 (7 GB)
Atlanta Hawks: 45-35 (13 GB)
Toronto Raptors: 44-35 (13.5 GB)
Orlando Magic: 44-36 (14 GB)
Philadelphia 76ers: 43-36 (14.5 GB)
Charlotte Hornets: 43-37 (15 GB)
Miami Heat: 41-38 (16.5 GB)
The Bucks, Bulls, Nets, Pacers and Wizards have been eliminated from postseason contention.
NBA Western Conference standings
(Through Wednesday, April 8)
Advertisement
*- clinched conference; d- clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth
*-Oklahoma City Thunder: 64-16
d-San Antonio Spurs: 61-19 (3 GB)
x-Denver Nuggets: 52-28 (12 GB)
d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-29 (13.5 GB)
x-Houston Rockets: 50-29 (13.5 GB)
x-Minnesota Timberwolves: 47-33 (17 GB)
Phoenix Suns: 44-36 (20 GB)
Los Angeles Clippers: 41-39 (23 GB)
Portland Trail Blazers: 40-40 (24 GB)
Golden State Warriors: 37-42 (26.5 GB)
The Pelicans, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Kings and Jazz have been eliminated from postseason contention.
NBA playoffs bracket
(Through Wednesday, April 8)
Eastern Conference -
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
Western Conference -
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
NBA Play-In Tournament
(Through Wednesday, April 8)
Eastern Conference -
(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference -
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Los Angeles Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
When do the NBA playoffs begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins Tuesday, April 14 and finishes Friday, April 17.
The NBA playoffs begin the very next day, Saturday, April 18, featuring eight teams in each conference after two teams from both the East and West are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be on Wednesday, June 3.
Which upcoming games could impact the postseason standings?
With just five days left in the regular season, every game matters, but there are a few games that could have serious impact on the end-of-season standings.
Wednesday, April 8 -
Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers
Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers
Thunder can clinch top seed with win or Spurs loss
Thursday, April 9 -
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
Friday, April 10 -
Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks
Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks
Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers
Sunday, April 12 -
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers
Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoff bracket, latest standings, scenarios
Source: “AOL Sports”
