NBA Playoff Picture 2026, Standings, Bracket Predictions After Timberwolves vs. Celtics

The end of the NBA regular season is just a few weeks away, which means the playoff picture is starting to come together.

So far, just three teams have clinched spots in the postseason: the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons. The next week of action should see a few more teams join them, though.

After Sunday night's matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, two teams with title hopes, here's a look at the updated standings.

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (56-15) — Clinched playoff berth
2. San Antonio Spurs (53-18) — Clinched playoff berth
3. Los Angeles Lakers (46-25)
4. Houston Rockets (43-27)
5. Denver Nuggets (44-28)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (44-28)
7. Phoenix Suns (40-32)
8. Los Angeles Clippers (35-36)
9. Portland Trail Blazers (35-37)
10. Golden State Warriors (33-38)
11. New Orleans Pelicans (25-47)
12. Memphis Grizzlies (24-46)
13. Dallas Mavericks (23-48)
14. Utah Jazz (21-50) — Eliminated
15. Sacramento Kings (19-53) — Eliminated

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit Pistons (51-19) — Clinched playoff berth
2. Boston Celtics (47-24)
3. New York Knicks (47-25)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (44-27)
5. Toronto Raptors (39-31)
6. Atlanta Hawks (39-32)
7. Philadelphia 76ers (39-32)
8. Orlando Magic (38-32)
9. Miami Heat (38-33)
10. Charlotte Hornets (37-34)
11. Milwaukee Bucks (29-41)
12. Chicago Bulls (28-42)
13. Brooklyn Nets (17-54) — Eliminated
14. Washington Wizards (16-55) — Eliminated
15. Indiana Pacers (15-56) — Eliminated

At this point, the race for the No. 1 seed in the West is just about over, but the San Antonio Spurs are still technically in the mix. Regardless, both of those teams would likely prefer if the standings stayed the way they are right now.

While the Thunder and Spurs have both dominated all year, seeing either the Suns, Clippers, Blazers or Warriors would be better than having to match up with a team like the Timberwolves or Nuggets.

Thanks to their recent hot stretch, the Lakers are closing in on securing a playoff spot, but they'll have to stay locked in for the rest of the year to secure a favorable seed.

In the East, the Pistons are in a good position to secure the top seed for the first time in nearly two decades, but the Celtics are still hanging around. Jayson Tatum's return only improves Boston's chances of stealing the No. 1 seed.

Heading into the final stretch of the season, the bottom half of the East will be interesting to watch since the No. 5-seeded Raptors are just three games ahead of the No. 10-seeded Hornets. A bad stretch from a team like Toronto or Atlanta could allow Charlotte or Miami to improve its position significantly.

While the playoffs are still wide open in the East, it's fair to say that the top four teams are the true contenders. Still, that doesn't take away from the excitement that comes with the end of the regular season.