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2026 NBA playoff picture: April 9 clinching scenarios, tiebreakers for postseason contenders
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The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 12. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, remaining schedules and the stakes for every day’s slate of games. For those teams not in the postseason hunt, we also break down the “race” for pole position in the upcoming NBA Draft lottery.
Jump to: Eastern Conference • Western Conference
CURRENT PLAY-IN BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat
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Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
CURRENT PLAYOFF BRACKET
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
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 RACE
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed, and the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers appear bound for the next three seeds, in some order, and home-court advantage in the opening round.
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Who, exactly, those four teams will play in the opening round is still up for grabs, as just two losses separate the fifth seed from the ninth seed. The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are all jockeying for position in the final days of the season.
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
Record: 58-22 | Net rating: 8.3 (3rd)
Clinched No. 1 seed and Central Division title
Remaining schedule: @CHA, @IND
What’s at stake: First-round matchup against No. 8 seed
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 54-26 | Net rating: 8.2 (4th)
Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Knicks
Magic number for No. 2 seed: 1
Remaining schedule: NOP, ORL
Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 3 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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Record: 52-28 | Net rating: 6.5 (5th)
Holds head-to-head tiebreakers over Celtics and Cavaliers
Magic number for No. 3 seed: 1
Remaining schedule: TOR, CHA
Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed
Lowest possible finish: No.4 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Record: 51-29 | Net rating: 4.1 (9th)
Loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Knicks
Remaining schedule: @ATL, WAS
Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Battling for guaranteed playoff spot
Record: 45-35 | Net rating: 2.2 (12th)
Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hawks, Hornets, Magic and Heat; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with 76ers
Magic number for No. 5 seed: 2
Remaining schedule: @NYK, BKN
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 45-35 | Net rating: 2.5 (11th)
Clinches playoff berth with win over Cavaliers
Holds tiebreakers over 76ers and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreakers to Raptors and Hornets
Magic number for No. 5 seed: Does not control own destiny
Remaining schedule: CLE, @MIA
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 44-36 | Net rating: 0.0 (17th)
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Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Heat; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Hawks, Raptors, 76ers and Hornets
Magic number for No. 8 seed: 2
Remaining schedule: @CHI, @BOS
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 43-36 | Net rating: -0.2 (18th)
Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Raptors, Hornets and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreaker with Hawks and Heat
Magic number for No. 7 seed: 3
Remaining schedule: @HOU, @IND, MIL
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Record: 43-37 | Net rating: 5.3 (6th)
Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hawks and Magic; loses head-to-head tiebreaker to Raptors, 76ers and Heat
Magic number for No. 9 seed: 2
Remaining schedule: DET, @NYK
Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 5 or 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Play-in bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 41-39 | Net rating: 2.1 (13th)
Locked into play-in tournament
Holds head-to-head tiebreaker over Hornets and 76ers; loses head-to-head tiebreaker to Magic and Raptors
Magic number for No. 9 seed: Does not control own destiny
Remaining schedule: @WAS, ATL
Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed.
Thursday’s games of consequence
WESTERN CONFERENCE RACE
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder have secured the league’s No. 1 overall seed while the San Antonio Spurs are locked into the West’s No. 2 seed.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have slipped behind the Denver Nuggets for the West’s No. 3 seed and are in danger of falling behind the Houston Rockets to No. 5.
The Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors are locked into the West’s play-in tournament with the Suns guaranteed the No. 7 seed and the Warriors No. 10.
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
Record: 64-16 | Net rating: 11.6 (1st)
Clinched No. 1 overall seed, Northwest Division title and home-court advantage throughout playoffs
Remaining schedule: @DEN, PHX
What’s at stake: Will face No. 8 seed after play-in tournament.
Record: 61-19 | Net rating: 8.4 (2nd)
Clinched No. 2 seed and Southwest Division title
Remaining schedule: DAL, DEN
What’s at stake: Will face No. 7 seed after play-in tournament.
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Record: 47-33 | Net rating: 3.1 (10th)
Remaining schedule: @HOU, NOP
What’s at stake: Will face No. 3 seed (Nuggets, Lakers or Rockets) in first round of playoffs.
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 52-28 | Net rating: 4.8 (8th)
Holds tiebreaker over Rockets, but not Lakers
Magic number for No. 3 seed: 2
Magic number for No. 4 seed: 1
Remaining schedule: OKC, @SAS
Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 5 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Record: 50-29 | Net rating: 1.2 (16th)
Clinched playoff berth and Pacific Division title
Holds tiebreaker over Nuggets and Rockets
Magic number for No. 4 seed: 3
Remaining schedule: @GSW, PHX, UTA
Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 5 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Record: 50-29 | Net rating: 5.0 (7th)
Loses tiebreaker to Nuggets and Rockets
Magic number for No. 3 seed: Do not control own destiny.
Magic number for No. 4 seed: Do not control own destiny.
Remaining schedule: PHI, MIN, MEM
Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 5 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 3 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Play-in bound, seeding locked
Record: 44-36 | Net rating: 1.5 (14th)
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Remaining schedule: @LAL, @OKC
Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What’s at stake: Will face No. 8 seed (Clippers or Blazers) in first game of play-in tournament at 10 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 14.
Record: 37-42 | Net rating: -0.3 (19th)
Remaining schedule: LAL, @SAC, @LAC
What’s at stake: Will face No. 9 seed (Clippers or Blazers) in second game of play-in tournament at 10 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 15.
Play-in bound, seeding to be determined
Record: 41-39 | Net rating: 1.5 (15th)
Friday’s game against the Trail Blazers determines head-to-head tiebreaker
Magic number for No. 8 seed: 2
Remaining schedule: @POR, GSW
Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.
Record: 40-40 | Net rating: -0.6 (20th)
Friday’s game against the Clippers determines head-to-head tiebreaker
Magic number for No. 8 seed: Do not control own destiny
Remaining schedule: LAC, SAC
Highest possible finish: No. 8 seed
Lowest possible finish: No. 9 seed
What’s at stake: The No. 8 seed and two chances to secure a playoff berth.
