NBA Playoff Picture 2026, Updated Bracket, Standings After Thunder Clinch Spot

The defending champs are officially on their way to the playoffs.

With their win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a top-six seed in the Western Conference, something that was never really in doubt this year since they've been atop the conference all season.

After the Thunder became the first team in the league to punch a playoff ticket, here's a look at the current standings.

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (54-15) — Clinched playoff berth
2. San Antonio Spurs (50-18)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (43-25)
4. Houston Rockets (41-26)
5. Denver Nuggets (41-27)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (41-27)
7. Phoenix Suns (39-29)
8. Los Angeles Clippers (34-34)
9. Golden State Warriors (33-35)
10. Portland Trail Blazers (33-36)
11. Memphis Grizzlies (23-44)
12. New Orleans Pelicans (23-46)
13. Dallas Mavericks (23-46)
14. Utah Jazz (20-48)
15. Sacramento Kings (18-15) — Eliminated

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit Pistons (49-19)
2. Boston Celtics (45-23)
3. New York Knicks (44-25)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27)
5. Toronto Raptors (38-29)
6. Orlando Magic (38-30)
7. Miami Heat (38-30)
8. Atlanta Hawks (37-31)
9. Philadelphia 76ers (37-31)
10. Charlotte Hornets (34-34)
11. Milwaukee Bucks (28-39)
12. Chicago Bulls (28-40)
13. Brooklyn Nets (17-15) — Eliminated
14. Washington Wizards (16-52) — Eliminated
15. Indiana Pacers (15-53) — Eliminated

While the Thunder haven't been quite as dominant as last season, they've still been the best team in the league by far. They've posted the best net rating in the NBA at 10.7, nearly three points ahead of the San Antonio Spurs, who have the second-best net rating.

OKC's offense has been solid, but the Thunder's real dominance has been on the defensive end as they allow the second-fewest points per game and force the second-most turnovers per game.

The outstanding season has once again been led by MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is putting up 31.6 points, 6.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game.

The Thunder have been without Gilgeous-Alexander's No. 2, Jalen Williams, who has been out since February because of a hamstring strain, so the fact that they've managed to play so well without him speaks to how complete they are as a team.

If Williams is back for the start of the playoffs, the Thunder perhaps will be the favorite to make it out of the West.

But Oklahoma City has some competition this year. The young San Antonio Spurs have been just behind the Thunder all year, and they're looking to prove that their title window has opened.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been shaky at times this season, but have found their groove recently and finally look like legitimate title contenders.

The Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves can't be counted out either, which just goes to show how good the Western Conference is this season.