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

For the fourth straight year, the New York Knicks are headed to the playoffs.

The Knicks officially clinched their 2026 playoff spot on Monday due to the Philadelphia 76ers' loss to the Miami Heat.

With New York currently sitting at 48-27, here's a look at the standings in each conference.

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit Pistons (54-20) — Clinched playoff berth
2. Boston Celtics (50-24) — Clinched playoff berth
3. New York Knicks (48-27) — Clinched playoff berth
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-28)
5. Toronto Raptors (42-32)
6. Atlanta Hawks (42-33)
7. Philadelphia 76ers (41-34)
8. Orlando Magic (39-35)
9. Miami Heat (40-36)
10. Charlotte Hornets (39-36)
11. Milwaukee Bucks (29-45) — Eliminated
12. Chicago Bulls (29-45) — Eliminated
13. Brooklyn Nets (18-57) — Eliminated
14. Washington Wizards (17-57) — Eliminated
15. Indiana Pacers (17-58) — Eliminated

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16) — Clinched playoff berth
2. San Antonio Spurs (56-18) — Clinched playoff berth
3. Los Angeles Lakers (48-26)
4. Denver Nuggets (48-28)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (48-28)
6. Houston Rockets (45-29)
7. Phoenix Suns (41-33)
8. Los Angeles Clippers (39-36)
9. Portland Trail Blazers (38-38) — Clinched play-in berth
10. Golden State Warriors (36-39) — Clinched play-in berth
11. Memphis Grizzlies (25-49) — Eliminated
12. New Orleans Pelicans (25-51) — Eliminated
13. Dallas Mavericks (24-50) — Eliminated
14. Utah Jazz (21-54) — Eliminated
15. Sacramento Kings (19-57) — Eliminated

The Knicks have remained one of the top teams in the East throughout head coach Mike Brown's first season with the organization and will look to go on another deep playoff run after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025.

New York's 118.5 offensive rating ranks No. 3 in the league, and its defense also showed improvement after the All-Star break.

The Knicks are once again led by point guard Jalen Brunson, who earned his third consecutive All-Star nod this season. Brunson is averaging 26.3 points, 6.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three-point territory.

Karl-Anthony Towns is looking to end his second season in New York on a high note, especially after brushing off a slow start to the year offensively.

Towns shot just 31.8 percent from behind the arc over the first 15 games of his 2025-26 campaign, but the star center is now connecting on 36.6 percent of his triples on the season to go along with his averages of 20.0 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.

The Knicks have taken a step forward defensively compared to last year due to the continued strong play of forwards OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges as well as backup center Mitchell Robinson.

New York could also be getting a boost for the start of the playoffs as reserve guard Miles McBride makes his way back from core surgery.

The Knicks' path to emerge from the Eastern Conference isn't an easy one, though. The Detroit Pistons have shown significant improvement compared to the team's 2024-25 season, while Jayson Tatum has returned to the Boston Celtics after missing most of the year recovering from a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

Still, expectations are high for New York with the postseason drawing closer.