NBA Playoffs 2026: Full bracket and first-round matchups confirmed

The final NBA Playoff spots are now confirmed following the play-in games. The Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns claimed the last tickets to the postseason, completing the field of teams still in contention for the title.

The Magic eliminated the Charlotte Hornets in the Eastern Conference and will now face the Detroit Pistons in a best-of-seven first-round series. Out West, the Suns did the same against the Golden State Warriors and will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, who not only led the Western Conference but finished with the best record in the entire league.

NBA regular season wrap-up

This year, the NBA moved away from their synchronized international schedule on the final day, opting instead for two staggered blocks of games more aligned with U.S. audiences. Most of the key positions had already been decided.

The top seeds were already locked in: the Thunder in the West and the Pistons in the East. Oklahoma City eased off in their final game, suffering a heavy loss to Phoenix. Meanwhile, Detroit pushed for their 60th win of the season in Indiana and got it.

The turnaround for the Pistons has been remarkable. Not long ago, they were posting historic losing records. Now, they sit at the top of the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs.

Thunder chasing history

Oklahoma City enters the postseason as the defending champion, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander resting ahead of what could be another MVP-winning campaign after averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 assists.

Under head coach Mark Daigneault, the Thunder posted the league’s best record at 64–18, securing the top spot for a second straight year. They are now aiming for a rare back-to-back championship, the kind of dominance not seen since the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019 and 2020.

But the real benchmark remains the Chicago Bulls of 1996 and 1997, led by Michael Jordan, who combined regular-season dominance with consecutive titles. That’s the level Oklahoma City is chasing.

Still, their regular season ended on a sour note, with a 32-point loss to the Suns, a minor blemish, but one that caused some concern.

Movement across the standings

There was still some late movement in the standings. The Denver Nuggets secured the third seed in the West after a win in which Nikola Jokic played to meet the minimum games requirement for awards eligibility. The Los Angeles Lakers, despite a dominant win over the Utah Jazz, had to settle for fourth.

Further down, the Portland Trail Blazers avoided the play-in tournament, while the Golden State Warriors were forced into it. In the East, the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers effectively chose their paths. Toronto secured the fifth seed ahead of the Atlanta Hawks, while Philadelphia 76ers earned home-court advantage over Orlando in their matchup.

The tanking debate

At the bottom of the standings, the usual draft implications came into play.

The three worst records in the league, all from the Eastern Conference, belong to the Brooklyn Nets (20–62), Indiana Pacers (19–63), and Washington Wizards (17–65). These teams will now have the best odds in the draft lottery.

Tanking remains a controversial but persistent strategy. The Wizards, for example, ended the season on a 10-game losing streak without much resistance.

Also eliminated in the East are the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks, who part ways with head coach Doc Rivers.

In the West, five teams missed the playoffs: the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Utah Jazz.

Many of these teams have spent much of the season positioning themselves for the draft, eyeing top prospects like Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and A.J. Dybantsa. Whether that approach benefits the league (or the fans) is another question entirely.

Final Standings (Top 10)

Eastern Conference:

1. Pistons
2. Celtics
3. Knicks
4. Cavaliers
5. Raptors
6. Hawks
7. 76ers
8. Magic
9. Hornets
10. Heat

Western Conference:

1. Thunder
2. Spurs
3. Nuggets
4. Lakers
5. Rockets
6. Timberwolves
7. Suns
8. Trail Blazers
9. Clippers
10. Warriors

First-Round matchups

Eastern Conference:

• Pistons vs. Magic
• Celtics vs. 76ers
• Knicks vs. Hawks
• Cavaliers vs. Raptors

Western Conference:

• Thunder vs. Suns
• Spurs vs. Trail Blazers
• Nuggets vs. Timberwolves
• Lakers vs. Rockets

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