2026 NBA Playoffs picture: Bucks eliminated, updated standings and clinching scenarios (March 29)
With less than three weeks until the NBA playoffs, here’s where things stand, which teams are in, out, and who can clinch tonight.
With the 2025–26 NBA regular season entering its final stretch, the playoff picture is becoming clearer. On Saturday, the Milwaukee Bucks were officially eliminated from postseason contention, marking the franchise’s first absence from the playoffs in a decade and one of the most surprising developments of the season.
The NBA playoffs are going to look a little bit different this season 😬 pic.twitter.com/NGacP1ocoj
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 28, 2026
With less than three weeks remaining before the playoffs begin on April 18, here’s where things stand across the league.
How the NBA playoff format works
The top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs. Teams ranked 7 through 10 will compete in the play-in tournament (April 14–17) to determine the final two postseason spots in each conference.
Which teams have clinched a playoff berth?
*Ahead of games on Sunday, March 29
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (58–16)
- San Antonio Spurs (55–18)
Eastern Conference
- Detroit Pistons (53–20)
These teams are guaranteed a top-six finish and will avoid the play-in tournament.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
— Andrei Puno (@PunoArturo45612) March 29, 2026
Here’s The 2026 NBA Playoff Picture updated through March 28 Games!
The NBA Playoffs Presented By Google Begins April 18th. https://t.co/54ARp5FiOI
Which teams have been eliminated?
*Ahead of games on Sunday, March 29
Western Conference
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Dallas Mavericks
- Utah Jazz
- Sacramento Kings
Eastern Conference
- Chicago Bulls
- Washington Wizards
- Brooklyn Nets
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Key clinching scenarios to watch (Sunday, March 29)
Even with several eliminations, more than 20 teams remain alive in the playoff or play-in race, with most having between 7–9 games left on their schedules. The battle for positioning, especially avoiding the play-in, is expected to intensify over the next two weeks.
Eastern Conference
- The Boston Celtics can clinch a playoff berth with a loss by either the Philadelphia 76ers or Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference
- Additional teams could move closer to clinching depending on results, though no new berths are guaranteed Sunday without help.
With the regular season winding down, the NBA playoff picture is tightening by the day. A few teams have already secured their spots. Several have been sent home early. And the rest are locked in a high-stakes sprint to the finish where every game could determine whether a season continues or ends.
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