April 12, 2026, 8:02 a.m. ET
We’ve reached the final day of the NBA regular season, and there’s still plenty of intrigue to be found as all 30 teams take the court – some in preparation for the postseason and some for the last time this spring – Sunday, April 12.
The playoff bracket and play-in tournament will finally be solidified based on the results of today’s games, though the picture became a little clearer on the penultimate day of the season.
In the Eastern Conference, the top four seeds have been determined: No. 1 Detroit Pistons, No. 2 Boston Celtics, No. 3 New York Knicks and No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers. Additionally, the Atlanta Hawks clinched a playoff berth and can finish no worse than the No. 6 seed. But there is still one playoff berth to be decided between the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, which will also affect seedings in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The Western Conference will also have some significant action Sunday night. While the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have wrapped up the No. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively, the Denver Nuggets seek to hold off the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 3 seed. The final battle will be between the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 8 seed.
USA TODAY Sports will be tracking all of Sunday’s games and providing live updates with a constant eye on playoff implications. Here are the current NBA standings, playoff bracket, play-in tournament, bracket and schedule for the final day of the regular season:
Sunday’s schedule
All times Eastern. All games on NBA League Pass except where noted.
- Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics, 6 p.m. | ESPN
- Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers, 6 p.m.
- Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers, 6 p.m.
- Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m.
- Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks, 6 p.m.
- Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, 6 p.m.
- Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m.
- Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
- Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m.
- New Orleans Pelicans at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m.
- Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:30 p.m.
- Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers, 8:30 p.m.
- Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, 8:30 p.m.
- Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 8:30 p.m.
NBA Playoffs bracket
(Ahead of games on Sunday, April 12)
Eastern Conference
- (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
- (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
- (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
- (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
Western Conference
- (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
- (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
- (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
- (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
NBA Play-In Tournament
(Ahead of games on Sunday, April 12)
Eastern Conference
- (7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
- (9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference
- (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
- (9) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
NBA Eastern Conference standings
(Ahead of games on Sunday, April 12)
c-clinched conference; d-clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth
- c-Detroit Pistons: 59-22
- d-Boston Celtics: 55-26 (4 GB)
- x-New York Knicks: 53-28 (6 GB)
- x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 51-30 (8 GB)
- d-Atlanta Hawks: 46-35 (13 GB)
- Toronto Raptors: 45-36 (14 GB)
- Orlando Magic: 45-36 (14 GB)
- Philadelphia 76ers: 44-37 (15 GB)
- Charlotte Hornets: 43-38 (16 GB)
- Miami Heat: 42-39 (17 GB)
The Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards have been eliminated from postseason contention.
NBA Western Conference standings
(Ahead of games on Sunday, April 12)
c-clinched conference; d-clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth
- c-Oklahoma City Thunder: 64-17
- d-San Antonio Spurs: 62-19 (2 GB)
- x-Denver Nuggets: 53-28 (11 GB)
- d-Los Angeles Lakers: 52-29 (12 GB)
- x-Houston Rockets: 51-30 (13 GB)
- x-Minnesota Timberwolves: 48-33 (16 GB)
- Phoenix Suns: 44-37 (20 GB)
- Portland Trail Blazers: 41-40 (23 GB)
- Los Angeles Clippers: 41-40 (23 GB)
- Golden State Warriors: 37-44 (27 GB)
The New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Kings and Utah Jazz have been eliminated from postseason contention.
When do the NBA Playoffs begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins Tuesday, April 14 and finishes Friday, April 17.
The NBA Playoffs begin the very next day, Saturday, April 18, featuring eight teams in each conference after two teams from both the East and West are eliminated in the play-in tournament.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be on Wednesday, June 3.