2026 NBA playoff picture: Standings, tiebreakers as Lakers and Rockets jostle in West
We are lower than a month out from the shut of 2025-26 NBA common season. The last day of video games will likely be on Sunday, April 12. Between now and then, we will likely be updating this playoff image every day to maintain you updated on the standings, vital magic numbers, all related tiebreakers, and our SportsLine projections.
Here is the place we stand coming into play on Monday, March 16.
2026 NBA Playoff Picture
If the season ended immediately…
Play-In Tournament
East: No. 7 heat vs. No. 8 76ersNo. 9 Hawks vs. No. 10 Hornets
West: No. 7 Suns vs. No. 8 ClippersNo. 9 Warriors vs. No. 10 Trail Blazers
East first spherical
No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 76ers/Heat/Hawks/Hornets
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Heat/76ers
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Raptors
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Magic
West first spherical
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Clippers/Suns/Warriors/Blazers
No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 Suns/Clippers
No. 3 Lakers vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
No. 4 Rockets vs. No. 5 Nuggets
Western Conference standings
At the highest of the West, No. 2 San Antonio nonetheless has an out of doors shot to catch the No. 1 Thunder, however a technique or one other these are going to be the highest two groups. After that, 5 groups are battling for the 3-7 seeds.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (53-15)
- Tiebreaker vs. Spurs: Spurs clinched
- SportsLine file projection: 63-19, 100% likelihood of constructing playoffs
2. San Antonio Spurs (49-18)
- Tiebreaker vs. Thunder: Spurs clinched
- SportsLine file projection: 60-22, 100% likelihood of constructing playoffs
3. Los Angeles Lakers (42-25)
- Tiebreaker vs. Rockets: Rockets lead 1-0
- SportsLine file projection: 50-32, 98.1% likelihood of constructing playoffs
4. Houston Rockets (41-25)
- Tiebreaker vs. Lakers: Rockets lead 1-0
- SportsLine projections: 51-31, 99.6% likelihood of constructing playoffs
5. Denver Nuggets (41-27)
- Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Nuggets personal
- Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Nuggets personal
- SportsLine projections: 49-33, 97.8% likelihood of constructing playoffs
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (41-27)
- Tiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Nuggets personal
- Tiebreaker vs. Suns: Suns personal
- SportsLine projections: 50-32, 98.1% likelihood of constructing playoffs
7. Phoenix Suns (39-28)
- Tiebreaker vs. Nuggets: Nuggets personal
- Tiebreaker vs. Timberwolves: Suns personal
- SportsLine projections: 47-35, 85.4% likelihood of constructing playoffs
8. LA Clippers (34-33)
- Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Clippers lead 2-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Blazers: Clippers lead 2-0
- SportsLine projections: 43-39, 48.1% likelihood of constructing playoffs
9. Golden State Warriors (32-35)
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: LA leads 2-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Blazers: Portland owns
- SportsLine projections: 41-41, 48.2% likelihood of constructing playoffs
10. Portland Trail Blazers (32-36)
- Tiebreaker vs. Warriors: Portland owns
- Tiebreaker vs. Clippers: LA leads 2-0
- SportsLine projections: 39-43, 24.7% likelihood of constructing playoffs
Eastern Conference standings
In the East, Detroit has a agency maintain on the highest spot over Boston and the tiebreaker already clinched. The Celtics are centered on holding off the No. 3 Knicks, who’re making an attempt to carry off the No. 4 Cavs, who’re making an attempt to carry off the No. 5 Magic. So yeah, it is tight.
1. Detroit Pistons (48-19)
- Tiebreaker vs. Celtics: Pistons personal
- SportsLine projections: 58-24, 100% likelihood of constructing playoffs
2. Boston Celtics (44-23)
- Tiebreaker vs. Pistons: Pistons personal
- Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Knicks lead 2-1
- SportsLine projections: 54-28, 100% likelihood of constructing playoffs
3. New York Knicks (44-25)
- Tiebreaker vs. Celtics: Knicks lead 2-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Cavaliers: Knicks personal
- SportsLine projections: 54-28, 100% likelihood of constructing playoffs
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27)
- Tiebreaker vs. Knicks: Knicks personal
- Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Cavs lead 2-1
- SportsLine projections: 51-31, 100% likelihood of constructing playoffs
5. Orlando Magic (38-28)
- Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Cavs lead 2-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Raptors: Series tied 1-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Heat: Miami owns
- SportsLine projections: 45-37, 68.5% likelihood of constructing playoffs
6. Toronto Raptors (38-29)
- Tiebreaker vs. Cavs: Cavs lead 2-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Series tied 1-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Heat: Raptors lead 2-0
- Tiebreaker vs. Sixers: Philly leads by way of division file
- Tiebreaker vs. Hawks: Raptors personal
- SportsLine projections: 47-35, 97.8% likelihood of constructing playoffs
7. Miami Heat (38-30)
- Tiebreaker vs. Magic: Miami owns
- Tiebreaker vs. Raptors: Raptors lead 2-0
- Tiebreaker vs. Sixers: Series tied 1-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Hawks: Heat lead 2-1
- SportsLine projections: 45-37, 79% likelihood of constructing playoffs
8. Philadelphia 76ers (37-31)
- Tiebreaker vs. Raptors: Philly leads by way of division file
- Tiebreaker vs. Heat: Series tied 1-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Hawks: 76ers personal
- SportsLine projections: 43-39, 53.1% likelihood of constructing playoffs
9. Atlanta Hawks (36-31)
- Tiebreaker vs. Raptors: Raptors personal
- Tiebreaker vs. Heat: Heat lead 2-1
- Tiebreaker vs. Sixers: 76ers personal
- SportsLine projections: 43-39, 48.9% likelihood of constructing playoffs
10. Charlotte Hornets (34-34)
- Tiebreaker vs. Hawks: Hornets personal
- Tiebreaker vs. Sixers: Series tied 1-1
- SportsLine projections: 42-40, 49.1% likelihood of constructing playoffs
Remarkable magic numbers
- Thunder’s magic quantity to clinch West’s No. 1 seed: 12
- Pistons’ magic quantity to clinch East’s No. 1 seed: 11
