Updated 2026 NBA Playoff Bracket Picture, Standings, Clinch Scenarios and Predictions
The NBA Playoffs are rapidly approaching, with the top teams fairly secured and those jockeying for positioning in the postseason and Play-In Tournament ever-changing with every win and loss.
What is the current playoff picture? Where does your favorite team currently sit, and who might compete for the NBA Championship come June?
Find out in this look at the most anticipated stretch of the NBA schedule.
NBA Playoff Schedule
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April 12: Regular season ends
April 14-17: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament Games
April 18: NBA Playoffs begin
June 3: NBA Finals Game 1 (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
June 5: NBA Finals Game 2 (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
June 8: NBA Finals Game 3 (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
June 10: NBA Finals Game 4 (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
June 13: NBA Finals Game 5 (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
June 16: NBA Finals Game 6 (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
June 19: NBA Finals Game 7 (ABC, 8:30 p.m. EST)
Current Eastern Conference Standings
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1. x-Detroit Pistons (55-21)
2. x-Boston Celtics (51-25)
3. x-New York Knicks (49-28)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (47-29)
5. Atlanta Hawks (44-33)
6. Philadelphia 76ers (42-34)
7. TBD
8. TBD
Play-In Tournament Teams
7. Toronto Raptors (42-34)
8. Charlotte Hornets (40-36)
9. Orlando Magic (40-36)
10. Miami Heats (40-37)
Eliminated from Playoff Contention
11. Milwaukee Bucks (30-46)
12. Chicago Bulls (29-47)
13. Indiana Pacers (18-58)
14. Brooklyn Nets (18-58)
15. Washington Wizards (17-59)
Current Western Conference Playoff Picture
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1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder (60-16)
2. x-San Antonio Spurs (58-18)
3. x-Los Angeles Lakers (50-26)
4. x-Denver Nuggets (49-28)
5. Houston Rockets (47-29)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-29)
7. TBD
8. TBD
Play-In Tournament Teams
7. Phoenix Suns (42-34)
8. Los Angeles Clippers (39-37)
9. Portland Trailblazers (39-38)
10. Golden State Warriors (36-40)
Eliminated from Playoff Contention
11. New Orleans Pelicans (25-51)
12. Memphis Grizzlies (25-51)
13. Dallas Mavericks (24-52)
14. Utah Jazz (21-56)
15. Sacramento Kings (20-57)
x-indicates clinched playoffs
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Playoff Clinching Scenarios and Prediction
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The Cleveland Cavaliers could have clinched a playoff berth on Wednesday with a loss by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Instead, Paul George scored 36, VJ Edgecomb added 23, and Tyrese Maxey tallied 28 as the Sixers routed the Washington Wizards and leapt over the Toronto Raptors and into the No. 6 seed.
The 76ers are healthy and playing some of their best basketball at the right time. If they can avoid one of the ill-timed injuries that have plagued the organization and resulted in very few instances of George, Maxey, and Joel Embiid playing at the same time, Philadelphia has the chance to be a dark horse contender in the Eastern Conference.
The conference remains top-heavy, though, with the Pistons, Celtics, and Knicks as the clear favorites. They have played the best, most consistent ball throughout the season. Most impressive has been Detroit's ability to stay the course without star Cade Cunningham. The team out of the Motor City has gone 7-3 in its last 10.
If the Pistons do not pay off this run with an appearance in the NBA Finals, it may very well be the Cetics, who are 8-2 in their last 10 and thriving with Jayson Tatum back on the court.
The Western Conference is more unpredictable, with every team from the Thunder to the Timberwolves appearing to be legitimate contenders for an NBA title. While defending champions Oklahoma City have only lost 16, they do not appear as impervious as they were a season ago.
The difference between that team and those under them in the rankings is that they are a united team with a star while the Spurs, Lakers, and Timberwolves all rely more on the play of the face of the franchise. It is for that reason alone that the Thunder should be considered the favorite to emerge from the conference and play for the top prize in the NBA.
NBA Championship Prediction: Boston over Oklahoma City
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