NBA Playoff Picture 2026: Predicting Complete Seedings for East and West Brackets

Three teams have officially clinched playoff berths with two weeks remaining in the NBA regular season.

However, we already know the 20 teams that will be involved in the postseason and the play-in round.

The order of those teams, and which ones participate in the play-in round, will be determined over the final few games of the regular season.

The most competitive parts of the standings will be the middle, as seeds could change hands daily in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Eastern Conference

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1 Detroit (54-20)

2. Boston (49-24)

3. New York (48-26)

4. Cleveland (46-28)

5. Toronto (41-32)

6. Atlanta (42-33)

Play-In Spots

7. Philadelphia (41-33)

8. Orlando (39-34)

9. Miami (39-35)

10. Charlotte (39-35)

All eyes in the Eastern Conference should be on the bottom six spots in the playoff standings.

The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks are both 12.5 games back of the Detroit Pistons in the No. 5 and No. 6 spots.

The Philadelphia 76ers are just a half-game back of both the Raptors and Hawks.

Philadelphia's road win in Charlotte on Saturday pushed the Hornets down to the No. 10 seed and moved the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat up a slot each.

Orlando's Sunday trip to Toronto took on even more significance after that result because the Raptors are in danger of dropping into the play-in spots.

Philadelphia, who played with a fully-healthy squad on Saturday, has eight games left to break back into the top six.

The Sixers have four games against teams beneath them in the standings. They also have to win a few games in a four-match run against Minnesota, Detroit, San Antonio and Houston.

Atlanta, who is 15-2 in the last 17 games, catches Boston on the second end of a back-to-back on Monday, but it still has to play Orlando, Miami, New York and then Cleveland twice.

Toronto has a far easier schedule than both the Sixers and Hawks, so the No. 6 seed will likely come down to which of Atlanta or Philadelphia can win more games against playoff competition.

Charlotte closes with the Wolves, Celtics, Pistons and Knicks, while Miami has two games versus Washington in the final eight days of the regular season.

The top four teams appear to be set, but some change could happen in the order. The Knicks and Celtics have one game left on April 9, while Cleveland has one of the easier closing stretches in the NBA.

Cleveland not only needs to win most of its remaining games, but it also needs the Knicks to stumble, which is tough to see given that the Knicks are 7-1 in their last eight.

Playoff Bracket Predictions

Play-In: No. 10 Charlotte vs No. 9 Miami, No. 8 Orlando vs. No. 7 Philadelphia

Play-In Winner vs. No. 1 Detroit

Play-In Winner vs. No. 2 Boston

No. 6 Atlanta vs. No. 3 New York

No. 5 Toronto vs. No. 4 Cleveland

Western Conference

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1 Oklahoma City (58-16)

2. San Antonio (56-18)

3. Los Angeles Lakers (48-26)

4. Denver (47-28)

5. Minnesota (45-29)

6. Houston (44-29)

Play-In Standings

7. Phoenix (41-33)

8. LA Clippers (38-36)

9. Portland (37-38)

10. Golden State (36-38)

The middle of the Western Conference started to sort itself out over the last week.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the catbird seat to claim the No. 3 seed. Their biggest hurdle is two games against Oklahoma City on April 2 and 7.

The rest of Los Angeles' schedule sets it up to land the No. 3 seed.

Denver closes the regular season with Oklahoma City and San Antonio, but those games might not matter for the Thunder and Spurs

Minnesota and Houston play on April 10. That is one of six remaining road games the Wolves have. They are 20-15 away from home.

Houston plays six of its final nine contests at home, where it is 25-10.

None of the top six teams are in danger of dropping into the play-in spots, where Phoenix seems to be locked into the No. 7 seed.

A gap should open up between Portland and Golden State on Sunday since the Blazers host the Wizards and the Warriors visit the Nuggets.

Golden State has an upcoming five-game homestand, but four of those games come against San Antonio, Cleveland, Houston and the Lakers.

Portland could even jump into the No. 8 seed if it beats the LA Clippers twice, but at minimum, the Blazers should comfortably lock into the No. 9 seed and host the Warriors.

Playoff Bracket Prediction

Play-In Round: No. 10 Golden State vs. No. 9 Portland, No. 8 LA Clippers vs. No. 7 Phoenix

Play-In Winner vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City

Play-In Winner vs. No. 2 San Antonio

No. 6 Minnesota vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers

No. 5 Houston vs. No. 4 Denver