April 7, 2026, 5:11 a.m. ET
The NBA playoff bracket is taking form in the final week of the 2026 regular season with both the Eastern Conference standings and Western Conference standings.
The Detroit Pistons have locked up the 1-seed in the East, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are close to clinching the 1-seed in the West and home-court advantage in the 2026 NBA Finals − should they get there for their title defense.
But the Play-In Tournament in both conferences is fluid, and is particularly crazy in the East.
Here is a look at the 2026 NBA playoffs, NBA standings and the Play-In Tournament entering Tuesday’s games.
Eastern Conference standings
All 10 teams in each conference have already secured either a playoff berth or an NBA Play-In Tournament spot. Teams seeded 7-10 in each conference will participate in the play-in to determine the Nos. 7-8 seeds.
- 1. Detroit Pistons, 57-22
- 2. Boston Celtics, 53-25
- 3. New York Knicks, 51-28
- 4. Cleveland Cavaliers, 50-29
- 5. Atlanta Hawks, 45-34
- 6. Toronto Raptors, 43-35
- 7. Philadelphia 76ers, 43-36
- 8. Charlotte Hornets, 43-36
- 9. Orlando Magic, 43-36
- 10. Miami Heat, 41-37
According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Hawks are 92% to finish with the 5-seed or 6-seed, the Raptors are 56% to stay out of the play-in and the Sixers are 33% to avoid it. The Sixers own tiebreakers over the Raptors, Hornets and Magic. The Heat are 87% to finish in the 9-seed or 10-seed. The Raptors host the Heat on Tuesday and on Thursday. The Hornets visit the Celtics on Tuesday.
Western Conference standings
- 1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 62-16
- 2. San Antonio Spurs, 60-19
- 3. Denver Nuggets, 51-28
- 4. Los Angeles Lakers, 50-28
- 5. Houston Rockets, 49-29
- 6. Minnesota Timberwolves, 46-32
- 7. Phoenix Suns, 43-35
- 9. Los Angeles Clippers, 40-38
- 8. Portland Trail Blazers, 40-39
- 10. Golden State Warriors, 36-42
The Clippers lead the season series over the Blazers, 2-1, but play at Portland on Friday.
NBA playoffs bracket 2026
Here are the matchups entering Tuesday, April 7, with six days left in the regular season:
Eastern Conference bracket
- (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 bracket
- (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
The NBA does not re-seed after the first round, so in each conference, the 1/8 winner will play the 4/5 winner, and the 2/7 winner will play the 3/6 winner in the conference semifinals.
NBA Play-In Tournament bracket
Entering play on Tuesday, April 7:
Eastern Conference
- (7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
- (9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference
- (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
- (9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
How does NBA Play-In Tournament work?
How does the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament work? It features eight teams, four from each conference.
The tournament, first instituted in 2020 with its current version adopted in 2022, involves the Nos. 7-10 teams in each conference battling for the seventh and eighth playoff seeds.
Tuesday, April 14
- East No. 7 vs. East No. 8
- West No. 7 vs. West No. 8
Winners secure No. 7 seed in the playoffs in their respective conferences. Losers will host win-or-go-home game for No. 8 seed.
Wednesday, April 15
- East No. 9 vs. East No. 10
- West No. 9 vs. West No. 10
Winners advance to final game of Play-In Tournament. Losers are eliminated.
Friday, April 17
- East 7/8 loser hosts East 9/10 winner
- West 7/8 loser hosts West 9/10 winner
Winners in each conference earn No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs. Losing teams eliminated.
How to watch NBA Play-In Tournament
Prime Video will broadcast all six games of the NBA Play-In Tournament. The game schedule will be announced after the regular season ends Sunday, April 12.
Who will Pistons play in first round of NBA playoffs?
The Pistons will face one of six teams who qualify for the playoffs as the 8-seed in the East: Hawks, Raptors, 76ers, Hornets, Magic or Heat.
The Pistons have already clinched the No. 1 seed, earning home-court advantage through the first three rounds.
NBA playoff schedule 2026
- April 12: Last day of NBA regular season.
- April 14-17: NBA Play-In Tournament.
- April 18: 2026 NBA playoffs begin.
- June 3: NBA Finals Game 1.
- June 19: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary).