Below are the latest playoff clinchingplayoff seeding and playoff elimination scenarios for the 2026 NBA playoffs. The SoFi Play-In Tournament tips off April 14and the NBA playoffs begin April 18.
THE BRACKET IS SET 🍿 pic.twitter.com/bqSnxeDnzv
— NBA (@NBA) April 132026
> First Round
The schedule for the first round of the NBA Playoffs will be announced at the conclusion of the regular season.
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit vs. (8) TBD
- Game 1: TBD at Detroit | Sunday April 19 (6:30 ETNBC/Peacock)
- Game 2: TBD at Detroit | TBD
- Game 3: Detroit at TBD | TBD
- Game 4: Detroit at TBD | TBD
- Game 5: TBD at Detroit* | TBD
- Game 6: Detroit at TBD* | TBD
- Game 7: TBD at Detroit* | TBD
(2) Boston vs. (7) TBD
- Game 1: TBD at Boston | Sunday April 19 (1 ETABC)
- Game 2: TBD at Boston | TBD
- Game 3: Boston at TBD | TBD
- Game 4: Boston at TBD | TBD
- Game 5: TBD at Boston* | TBD
- Game 6: Boston at TBD* | TBD
- Game 7: TBD at Boston* | TBD
(3) New York vs. (6) Atlanta
- Game 1: Atlanta at New York | Saturday April 18 (6 ETPrime Video)
- Game 2: Atlanta at New York | TBD
- Game 3: New York at Atlanta | TBD
- Game 4: New York at Atlanta | TBD
- Game 5: Atlanta at New York | TBD*
- Game 6: New York at Atlanta | TBD*
- Game 7: Atlanta at New York | TBD*
(4) Cleveland vs. (5) Toronto
- Game 1: Toronto at Cleveland | Saturday April 18 (1 ETPrime Video)
- Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland | TBD
- Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto | TBD
- Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto | TBD
- Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland | TBD*
- Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto | TBD*
- Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland | TBD*
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) TBD
- Game 1: TBD at Oklahoma City | Sunday April 19 (3:30 ETABC)
- Game 2: TBD at Oklahoma City | TBD
- Game 3: Oklahoma City at TBD | TBD
- Game 4: Oklahoma City at TBD | TBD
- Game 5: TBD at Oklahoma City | TBD*
- Game 6: Oklahoma City at TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: TBD at Oklahoma City | TBD*
(2) San Antonio vs. (7) TBD
- Game 1: TBD at San Antonio | Sunday April 19 (9 ETNBC/Peacock)
- Game 2: TBD at San Antonio | TBD
- Game 3: San Antonio at TBD | TBD
- Game 4: San Antonio at TBD | TBD
- Game 5: TBD at San Antonio | TBD*
- Game 6: San Antonio at TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: TBD at San Antonio | TBD*
(3) Denver vs. (6) Minnesota
- Game 1: Minnesota at Denver | Saturday April 18 (3:30 ETPrime Video)
- Game 2: Minnesota at Denver | TBD
- Game 3: Denver at Minnesota | TBD
- Game 4: Denver at Minnesota | TBD
- Game 5: Minnesota at Denver | TBD*
- Game 6: Denver at Minnesota | TBD*
- Game 7: Minnesota at Denver | TBD*
(4) Los Angeles vs. (5) Houston
- Game 1: Houston at Los Angeles | Saturday April 18 (8:30 ETABC)
- Game 2: Houston at Los Angeles | TBD
- Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston | TBD
- Game 4: Los Angeles at Houston | TBD
- Game 5: Houston at Los Angeles | TBD*
- Game 6: Los Angeles at Houston | TBD*
- Game 7: Houston at Los Angeles | TBD*
Postseason Scenarios entering April 12
(Ten seeds could have changed on Sunday based on the final day’s results.)
Seeds still to be determined entering the regular-season finale Sunday:
West: Nos. 3 and 4; Nos. 8 and 9
East: Nos. 5–10Complete possibilities ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yK4Yhixaiw
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 112026
Complete Playoff & Play-In scenarios for Sunday's games.
See how each result impacts seeding ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6b8Wdv67h3
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 112026
Eastern Conference
No. 5
- ❌
ATLANTA clinches No. 5with a win or a loss by Boston AND a win by Brooklyn. - ✅ TORONTO clinches No. 5 with a win AND losses by Orlando AND Atlanta.
No. 6
- ✅ ATLANTA clinches No. 6 with a lossa Toronto win AND an Orlando loss.
- ❌
TORONTO clinches No. 6with an Atlanta win AND a win OR losses by Orlando AND Philadelphia. - ❌
ORLANDO clinches No. 6with a win AND a Toronto loss. - ❌
PHILADELPHIA clinches No. 6with a win AND losses by Toronto AND Orlando.
No. 7
- ✅ PHILADELPHIA clinches No. 7 with a wina Toronto win AND losses by Atlanta and Orlando.
No. 8
- ❌
PHILADELPHIA will hold No. 8with wins by Orlando AND Philadelphia. - ✅ ORLANDO clinches No. 8 with a loss AND wins by Toronto and Philadelphia.
- ❌
TORONTO could slide to No. 8with a loss AND wins by Orlando and Philadelphia.
No. 9
- ✅ CHARLOTTE clinches No. 9 with a win or a Miami loss.
- ❌
MIAMI clinches No. 9with a win AND a Charlotte loss.
Western Conference
No. 3
- ✅ DENVER clinches No. 3 with a win or L.A. Lakers loss.
- ❌
LOS ANGELES clinches No. 3with a win AND a Denver loss.
No. 8
- ✅ PORTLAND clinches No. 8 with a win or LA Clippers loss.
- ❌
LA clinches No. 8with a win AND a Portland loss.
NBA Playoffs bracket
(After games played on April 12)
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
(After games played on April 12)
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
(9) LA Clippers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Orlando Magic
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat
> SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament FAQ and format explainer
When do the playoffs start?
Here are the key dates for the NBA postseason:
- The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will take place April 14-17.
- The first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs will start April 18.
- Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals will be June 3.
Which teams have clinched a playoff spot?
Here are the teams that have clinched a playoff berth:
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- San Antonio Spurs
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
- Houston Rockets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
Eastern Conference
- Detroit Pistons
- Boston Celtics
- New York Knicks
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Toronto Raptors
- Atlanta Hawks
Which teams are locked into a postseason seed?
Here are the teams that have a specific confirmed seed:
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
- San Antonio Spurs (2)
- Denver Nuggets (3)
- Los Angeles Lakers (4)
- Houston Rockets (5)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
- Phoenix Suns (7)
- Portland Trail Blazers (8)
- LA Clippers (9)
- Golden State Warriors (10)
Eastern Conference
- Detroit Pistons (1)
- Boston Celtics (2)
- New York Knicks (3)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (4)
- Toronto Raptors (5)
- Atlanta Hawks (6)
- Philadelphia 76ers (7)
- Orlando Magic (8)
- Charlotte Hornets (9)
- Miami Heat (10)
Which teams have been eliminated?
Here are the teams that have been eliminated from postseason contention (listed in alphabetical order):
Western Conference
- Dallas Mavericks
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Sacramento Kings
- Utah Jazz
Eastern Conference
- Brooklyn Nets
- Chicago Bulls
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Washington Wizards
