The 2026 NBA regular season ends April 12. The Play-In Tournament begins April 14. The playoffs tip off April 18.[1]
The Detroit Pistons have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference at 57-22 — a remarkable feat given that Cade Cunningham has missed recent games with injury.[2] The Boston Celtics sit second at 53-25, bolstered by Jayson Tatum's return.[1]
The middle of the East is a mess. The Hawks (45-34), Raptors (43-35), 76ers (43-36), Hornets (43-36), Magic (43-36) and Heat (41-37) are separated by four games. Only two will avoid the Play-In Tournament.[2]
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder lead at 62-16. The San Antonio Spurs are close behind at 60-19, still in the hunt for the top seed.[1] The Warriors have clinched a Play-In berth at 36-42 — Stephen Curry's last dance with a team that cannot catch a break.[2]
The Play-In brackets:
East: 76ers vs. Hornets, Magic vs. Heat.[1]
West: Suns vs. Clippers, Trail Blazers vs. Warriors.[2]
The first-round matchups are set pending Play-In results: Pistons vs. the No. 8 seed, Celtics vs. the No. 7 seed, Knicks vs. Raptors, Cavaliers vs. Hawks in the East. Thunder vs. the No. 8 seed, Spurs vs. the No. 7 seed, Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, Lakers vs. Rockets in the West.[1]
The Pistons' story is the most compelling: a team built around a young star who is not playing, holding the top seed through depth and coaching. Whether that holds through a seven-game series is the question the rest of the East is asking.
-- AMARA OKONKWO, Lagos